SCOTLAND

Commonwealth Games 2014

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to learn from the London 2012 Olympics Games in preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.

David Mundell: In the coalition agreement, the UK Government committed to working with the Scottish Government to deliver a successful Commonwealth games in Glasgow 2014. The Prime Minister has assured the First Minister that UK departments will play a full and appropriate role in delivering their responsibilities and sharing their experience to contribute to the success of the Commonwealth games.

Commonwealth Games 2014

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with organisers of the London 2012 Olympics on the sharing of advice to ensure the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 are a success.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office is in regular and active contact with all the departments with responsibilities for the organisation of the London 2012 Olympics to ensure that advice and expertise are shared with the organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games. The Secretary of State for Scotland will be meeting with Lord Coe in the near future to discuss further.

Exports: Scotland

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to further support the relationship between Scottish exporters and markets in the Middle East and North Africa.

David Mundell: The Government are committed to supporting UK businesses, including from Scotland, around the world. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have direct engagement with many Scottish companies with investments around the world. Brian Wilson, chairman of Harris Tweed Hebrides, has been appointed a UK Business Ambassador with special focus on Scotland. He is currently carrying out a review of Scottish exporting and the support provided by the UK and Scottish Governments.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

iPads

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service has spent on iPads in 2012-13 to date.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has spent no money on iPads in 2012-13 to date.

Lindis Percy

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Attorney-General what the cost to the public purse was of the prosecution of Lindis Percy in April 2012 at Harrogate Magistrates' Court.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not operate a time recording system on individual cases but assesses cost through an activity-based costing model. Using this model, the estimated cost to the CPS of prosecuting Lindis Percy was £875. This costing is not specific to the case but is based on data produced on the indicative average cost for each defendant involved in a summary trial at the magistrates court. An uplift has been applied to take account of the higher than average number of hearings in this case and the length of the trial.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Alterations: Planning Permission

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on use of powers to use Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to opt-out of the proposed changes to increase permitted development rights for extensions to homes and business premises in non-protected areas.

Nicholas Boles: Guidance on the use of Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) is contained in Replacement Appendix D to Department of the Environment Circular 9/95: General Development Consolidation Order 1995, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. This was revised in June 2012 and there are no plans at present to update the guidance.

Fire Services: Pensions

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to the consultation on the Firefighters' Pension Scheme proposals to allow members aged 48 years or older with 30 years' service in the scheme to take a contribution holiday.

Brandon Lewis: The proposal to provide certain categories of firefighter member with a contributions holiday is part of a wider consultation on proposed changes to the Firefighters' Pension Schemes.
	Since the conclusion of the consultation period, the Department has been considering its approach to a number of the proposals set out in that consultation. Once a final position has been reached on each of the proposals, the Department will publish the Government response.

Heathrow (SP)

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on Heathrow (SP) Ltd's purchase of the Princes Club in Sipson.

Nicholas Boles: The Department has no record of any representations having been received relating specifically to Heathrow (SP) Ltd's purchase of the Princes Club.

Planning Permission

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on reducing the six-week time limit for bringing a statutory appeal under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Nicholas Boles: There are no plans to reduce the six week time limit for statutory appeals under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
	For the avoidance of doubt, this appeals procedure is separate from the judicial review process.

EDUCATION

Children in Care: Employment

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department undertakes a regular assessment of the employment choices of care leavers after they have left the care system.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education collects information on the employment status of young people aged 19 who were looked after when aged 16. Information on the type of employment is not collected. Local authorities have clearly defined duties and responsibilities for their care leavers. The Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010 and guidance 'Planning Transition for Adulthood for Care Leavers' requires local authorities to provide young people who turn 18 with appropriate leaving care support. This includes a regularly reviewed pathway plan and the allocation of a personal adviser to provide advice and support on a range of matters including education and employment. This continues until the young person reaches the age of 21, or beyond if they are still in education. The Department is currently funding the From Care2Work programme run by the National Care Advisory Service. This aims to improve employment opportunities for care leavers by offering young people work experience, and through apprenticeships to part and full time jobs in the public and private sector. Participants in the programme include Marriott Hotels and Tottenham Hotspur football club. Outcomes so far include:
	105 local authorities creating 6,169 employment, training and education opportunities;
	109 national employers, creating 580 work experience opportunities.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the recommendations from his expert data group set up as a result of the APPG inquiry into children missing from care.

Edward Timpson: The Expert Data Group has been chaired by the Department and includes representatives from the Association of Directors of Children's Services, police organisations, the Office of the Children's Commissioner, The Children's Society and Ofsted. It has met frequently since July to consider how to safeguard looked after children who go missing, or are at risk of going missing, by developing improved local and national data collection arrangements, and strengthening practice among carers, children's homes, local authorities and the police.
	The Expert Data Group is working alongside two other expert groups established to take forward work on the reform of children's residential care: a group focusing on how to improve arrangements, and the quality of care and support, for looked after children placed ‘out of area’ by their local authorities; and a further group with a broad remit to consider how to improve the overall quality of children's residential provision.
	Once we have considered the Expert Data Group's proposals alongside those made by the other expert groups, we will announce the action we intend to take in due course.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the recommendations from the task and finish group on out of borough placements set up as a result of the APPG inquiry into children missing from care.

Edward Timpson: The Out of Area Placements Task and Finish Group has been focusing on how to improve arrangements, and the quality of care and support, for looked after children placed 'out of area' by their local authorities. This is part of the wider work announced by Ministers in July to reform children's residential care. The Group has comprised senior expert representation from children's services, local authorities, providers, Ofsted and others. It has met frequently over the summer.
	The Task and Finish Group has been working in parallel with two other expert groups established to take forward work on the reform of children's residential care: a group focusing on improving data about looked after children who go missing from care, and a further group with a broad remit to consider how to improve the overall quality of children's residential provision.
	We are considering the Task and Finish Group's proposals alongside those made by the other expert groups, and will announce the action we intend to take in due course.

Further Education

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons the Education Funding Agency wrote to organisations on 25 September 2012 to announce that all applications to establish new independent specialist colleges under the provider application process would not proceed any further; and what further support his Department intends to provide to organisations which had been involved in that application process.

Matthew Hancock: From 2013/14 the Department, through the Education Funding Agency, is implementing new funding arrangements for independent specialist colleges and other institutions with specialist provision. These arrangements will support the Government's plans to introduce a more integrated approach to assessment and planning for young people with special educational needs from birth to age 25. Historically only a limited number of institutions—including independent specialist providers—have been eligible for the funding set aside for specialist provision, but the new funding arrangements mean that budgets will be made available for local authorities to commission provision and to contract with a wider range of institutions from August 2013. As both the funding and contracting arrangements are changing, the existing process to apply to become an Education Funding Agency-funded independent specialist college is no longer relevant and this is why we have ended that process. Given their vulnerability, high support needs and costs of providing specialist provision for these young people I do not believe that market entry should be uncontrolled under the new funding arrangements. As part of the transition planning the Education Funding Agency is working with the Local Government Association and local authorities to develop criteria to be applied before new specialist institutions can be funded. Local authorities have also informed the Education Funding Agency of all the places that they wish to commission in specialist institutions in 2013/14. This process has enabled potential new institutions to be identified and the new funding arrangements offer real opportunities to work with local authorities who will be commissioning placements in their organisations.
	Providers that applied through the Independent Specialist Provision: Provider Application Process prior to its closure in September 2012 have been contacted by the Education Funding Agency and given a web link to the Department website where updates about the new funding arrangements are published. The Education Funding Agency will contact these providers and advise them of the process for consideration and agreement to fund and contract when this is finalised by the end of December 2012.

Parents

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures of the extent of parental conflict the Government currently use.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Social Justice Outcomes Framework, which was announced on 31 October, includes an indicator of family stability and parental relationship quality. The family is the first and most important building block in a child's life, and supporting vulnerable families is crucial to the Government's strategy for fighting poverty. That is why the Government have committed £30 million to fund relationship support over the current spending review period (2011 to 2015).

Pupils: Foreign Nationals

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children born outside the UK are enrolled in UK schools.

David Laws: holding answer 22 November 2012
	It is not possible to answer this question directly with the available data. The School Census in England does not collect data on pupils' country of birth.
	However, it is possible to use the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to make an estimate of the number of children of compulsory school-age born outside the UK. Of the 7.8 million children aged five to 15 years in the UK, 0.5 million (6.3%) were born outside the UK(1).
	It is not possible to use the LFS to analyse how many of these children are enrolled in UK schools.
	The 2011 ONS Census included questions on citizenship, the results of which should be available in 2013. This will provide further information on the number of school-age children born outside the UK, although again it will not indicate whether they are being educated in UK schools.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that all children are able to access the education services they need, regardless of their nationality.
	(1 )Based on LFS analysis of the four pooled quarters from quarter four 2011 to quarter three 2012

Schools: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consultation his Department and its agencies conducted with (a) disabled people, (b) organisations representing disabled people and (c) architects prior to revising school building design specifications.

David Laws: The baseline designs for schools recently published by the Department are based on the Department's most recent output specification for the privately financed schools in the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). Architects and contractors were consulted during the preparation of this output specification.
	The PSBP private finance output specification was informed by the Department's current design guidance Building Bulletin 102 'Designing for disabled children and children with special educational needs'. This guidance resulted from extensive consultation with organisations representing disabled people, architects with experience of designing schools and schools. This guidance is due for review; part of this will involve seeking advice again from the same or similar organisations.
	The baseline designs for schools can be seen at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/baseline/b00213595/baseline-designs---how-the-designs-address-the-brief/key-principles
	The new private finance output specification is now available to download on the DFE website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/baseline/b00213573/facilities-output-specification-for-the-priority-school-building-proqramme-pfi-projects

Schools: Disability

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether (a) an equality impact assessment or (b) any other kind of assessment relating to the ability of persons with special educational needs and disabilities to access buildings was conducted by his Department or its agencies prior to changing the Priority Schools Building Programme baseline design specifications.

David Laws: The Department did not carry out an equality impact assessment on the Priority Schools Building Programme baseline design specifications because the project did not involve the creation of new policy or regulations.
	The baseline designs for schools, recently published by the Department, are based on the Department's most recent output specification, for the Priority School Building Programme (private finance projects). These designs are intended to meet all relevant regulations and to ensure the schools support pupils with special educational needs and are accessible to disabled people. Accessibility reviews were carried out to check that the designs met all requirements.
	The baseline designs for schools can be seen at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schoots/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/baseline/b00213595/baseline-designs---how-the-desians-address-the-brief/key-principles
	The new Output Specification for privately financed projects is now available to download on the DFE website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/baseline/b00213573/facilities-output-specification-for-the-priority-school-building-programme-pfi-projects

Special Educational Needs

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether local authorities can refuse to undertake a statutory assessment for special needs for home-educated children on the grounds that the child is not a registered pupil at a school.

Edward Timpson: No. Local authorities, under the Education Act 1996, have a duty, where necessary, to assess the special educational needs (SEN) of, and draw up SEN 'statements' for, children of compulsory school age in their area, whether they are registered at a school or not. Local authorities have a duty, where necessary, to assess and statement young people who are above compulsory school age and under the age of 19 only when those young people are registered at a school.

Teachers: Pensions

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people were overpaid their pension by the Teacher Pension Agency in each year since 1991; and how much on average was repaid in each such year.

David Laws: The Teachers' Pension Scheme has been administered by Capita under contract to the Department for Education since 1996. Overpayment data are only available from 1997-98, and these are presented in the following table.
	Pension overpayments can arise for a number of reasons if Capita is not notified of a change in a member's circumstances, such as the death of a member in receipt of pension, or a re-employed member in receipt of pension breaching their earning limit.
	
		
			  Number of members Average overpayment returned (£) 
			 1997-98 177 223.21 
			 1998-99 2,498 175.00 
			 1999-00 6,766 685.92 
			 2000-01 6,590 664.95 
			 2001-02 4,038 1,186.70 
			 2002-03 5,202 869.98 
			 2003-04 5,521 1,585.46 
			 2004-05 4,976 1,290.50 
			 2005-06 4,935 1,208.84 
			 2006-07 5,094 1,296.98 
			 2007-08 4,822 1,321.29 
			 2008-09 5,378 1,311.32 
			 2009-10 5,879 3,758.73 
			 2010-11 5,264 1,687.46 
			 2011-12 5,861 1,817.93

Written Questions: Government Responses

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 126466 tabled on 30 October 2012 for answer on 1 November 2012.

Edward Timpson: A response was issued to my hon. Friend's question on 22 November 2012, Official Report, column 561W.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Security

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 4W, on aviation: security, what consideration he has given to compliance with human rights legislation in respect of individuals concerned about health risks or moral issues arising from undertaking a full-body scan at airports.

Simon Burns: The Government consulted on a code of practice for the use of security scanner technology. The code addresses issues including health, privacy and data protection and requires airports to put suitable safeguards in place.
	All security scanners in the UK use automatic threat recognition software—meaning that no images are viewed by human reviewers. All scanners in the UK use millimetre wave technology. Safety studies have concluded that there are no known health effects from the use of this technology.

Bus Services: Information and Communications Technology

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require that all new buses are fitted with onboard audio-visual information systems; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: At present there are no plans to legislate to make audio visual systems on buses mandatory. This is because the business case for operators cannot be demonstrated and, particularly in the current economic climate, it is not appropriate to force financial burdens of this kind on the industry.
	However, I understand the social benefits of having passenger information available for all bus users and have written to bus operators to encourage them to work in partnership with their local authorities, to see if the uptake of the necessary systems can be increased on a voluntary basis.
	As part of the Government's Olympic and Paralympic legacy, we are currently looking more generally at a number of ways of improving the accessibility of public transport.
	Regulations are already in place which outline the duties and expected behaviour of bus drivers towards disabled passengers. They are contained in the Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers Regulations 2002. Drivers must, where reasonable, assist disabled persons when asked and this may include announcing the required stop if asked to do so.

Bus Services: Internet

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what individuals and organisations he and officials in his Department have met to discuss the (a) creation and (b) funding of the website busforus.co.uk.

Norman Baker: The Secretary of State has not had any meetings regarding ‘Busforus’. At the Bus Partnership Forum on 18 January I met the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), major bus operators, local authority representatives, Passenger Focus and Bus Users UK, at which it was agreed that the group would develop proposals to tackle transport issues for young people. On 26 June and on 10 September I met CPT, with my officials, to discuss CPT's project to facilitate a web-based transport information solution for young people. I launched ‘Busforus’ on 6 November at the EuroBus Expo in Birmingham. ‘Busforus’ is funded by the bus industry.

Bus Services: Internet

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for the website busforus.co.uk.

Norman Baker: The Department does not fund ‘Busforus’. This web-based transport information solution was developed and is managed by the bus industry.

Dover Port

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the sale of the Port of Dover; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The Government's position on the sale of trust ports remains unchanged from that announced in August 2011. The revised announced policy is that which the Government expects to follow when considering an application under the Ports Act. Dover Harbour Board's proposed Ports Act transfer scheme is being considered against the revised criteria for trust port sales set out within this policy.

Dover Port

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) public and (b) private investment has been received by the Port of Dover since May 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The Port of Dover has received no public investment since May 2010. The Department for Transport does not collect information on private investment received by the port outside of that which is available in its published accounts.

Dover Port

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to take a decision on the proposed sale of the Port of Dover.

Simon Burns: I have been considering the additional information provided in June by Dover Harbour Board, alongside the many representations received, on its application for a transfer scheme under the Ports Act 1991 that would, if confirmed, allow it to sell the port of Dover. I intend to make an announcement soon.

Electric Vehicles: Safety

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to address the danger of silent hybrid and electric motor vehicles.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is working with international bodies to develop recommendations on adding artificial sound to quiet vehicles such as hybrid and electric motor vehicles. These recommendations are expected to specify the characteristic of the sound and the vehicle speed up to which the sound should be generated, so that levels from electric and conventional vehicles are similar. The Department recently published a research report on the audibility of electric vehicles and can be found at the following link:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/assessing-the-perceived-safety-risk-from-quiet-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles/PPR525-assessing-the-perceived-safety-risk-from-quiet-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles.pdf

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

Norman Baker: The data requested can be found in the table below:
	
		
			 Grants paid by the Department for Transport(1) 
			 Category Payable to / Affecting Scotland 
			 Aviation  
			 Air Transport accessibility complaint handling Includes Scotland 
			 Public Safety Zone S16 Grant Includes Scotland 
			 Radar Remediation Scheme re G4 phones Includes Scotland 
			   
			 Low carbon road vehicles  
			 Plugged-In Places electrical charging points Includes Scotland 
			 Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership Not Scotland 
		
	
	
		
			 Plugged in vehicle and low carbon grants Includes Scotland 
			 Energy Saving Trust Not Scotland 
			 Low Carbon Vehicle Improvement Programme Includes Scotland 
			 Green Truck Trial Includes Scotland 
			   
			 Buses  
			 Real Time Information Grant Not Scotland 
			 Bus Service Operator Grants Not Scotland 
			 Concessionary Travel Preparation Grants Not Scotland 
			   
			 Local authorities and non-rail London  
			 Linking Local Communities Not Scotland 
			 LA Integrated Transport Block Not Scotland 
			 LA Road Maintenance Not Scotland 
			 LA Major Road Schemes Not Scotland 
			 PFI Grants to LAs Not Scotland 
			 Greater London Authority (TfL) Not Scotland 
			 Tram Train development (Sheffield) Not Scotland 
			 Olympics In-Venue Security to LOCOG Not Scotland 
			   
			 Rail  
			 Community Rail Not Scotland 
			 Railways for AN accessibility Includes Scotland 
			 Rail Safety and Standards Board Activities benefit Scotland indirectly 
			 Network Rail Not Scotland 
			 ITSO (Smart ticketing) Grant Not Scotland 
			 Crossrail Not Scotland 
			 PTEs—Northern England (including non-rail) Not Scotland 
			 Rail—Transport for London overland Not Scotland 
			 Rail—MerseyTravel Not Scotland 
			 Support for passenger rail services (Train Operating Companies) Not Scotland 
			 Trans European Network EU Programme Includes Scotland, but DfT is EU payment agent only 
			   
			 Miscellaneous  
			 Merchant Navy Days Includes Scotland 
			 Inland water safety (RoSPA) Includes Scotland 
			 Road Safety (to RoSPA) Includes Scotland 
			 Mountain Rescue Includes Scotland 
			 Sustainable Distribution Not Scotland 
			 Freight Not Scotland 
			 Community Transport Not Scotland 
			 Local Sustainable Transport Fund Grants Not Scotland 
			 Cycling England & Bikeability Not Scotland 
			 Highways Maintenance Efficiency Not Scotland 
			 (1 )Grants are only paid by the central Department.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the adequacy of (a) his Department's and (b) HS2 Ltd's budgets for mitigation with a view to ensuring that budget constraints do not limit the examination and consideration of options for mitigation along the proposed route.

Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd have considered a large number of mitigation options for the proposed route and will continue to look at ways to refine the design of the railway. Each proposed change will be evaluated on its own merits on the basis of a number of factors including environmental performance and engineering feasibility as well as value for money for the taxpayer.

Mobility Vehicles: Safety

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 21 March 2012, Official Report, column 258-61WH, on mobility vehicle safety, what progress has been made on reviewing policy and enforcement of legislation on mobility scooter safety.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport continues to make progress on the review of mobility scooter safety. We have been in discussions with the industry and other stakeholders about a standardised assessment for new users (including an improved eyesight test), and how best to promote training and encourage the take up of insurance. The results of our discussions will be disseminated as soon as possible. We are continuing the work to identify a suitable legal mechanism for replacing the term 'invalid carriage', and suitable amendments to the regulations to enable the weight of powered wheelchairs to be increased will be laid as soon as possible. We will be completing shortly an evidence-gathering research project, as part of the exercise to develop a kite marking scheme for transport of scooters on public transport. The Department is engaging in discussions with operators and the industry regarding suitable designs and guidance to facilitate transport on public transport.

Motorcycles

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the role and remit is of each committee and focus group established by his Department and the Driving Standards Agency involved in motorcycle training and testing (a) between May 2010 and August 2012 and (b) from August 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The groups established by the Department for Transport and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) between May 2010 and August 2012 and involved in motorcycle training and testing are listed as follows.
	No new groups have been established from August 2012 to date.
	In addition, the Motorcycle Stakeholder Panel, established in November 2009, met throughout 2010 and 2011. The panel ensured stakeholders were informed of and able to offer input to DSA plans and provided a forum for them to represent their members.
	Established in 2010:
	The Motorcycle Test Review High Level Steering Group. Provides a high level oversight of the test review process.
	Motorcycle Test Review Working Group. As part of the Government's wider work to promote safe, reasonable use of the road network, the specific focus of the motorcycle test review is to consider how to improve the practical motorcycle test in Great Britain. Specific areas for consideration include:
	the content of the practical test;
	safe delivery arrangements;
	adequate geographical coverage;
	implications for the training industry;
	implications of the EU third driving licence directive; and
	cost implications for riders, trainers and DFT/DSA/DVLA.
	Motorcycle Test Review Technical Sub-Group. Considers how best to implement the manoeuvres that should form part of the practical motorcycle test, having regard to the requirements of the EU driving licence directives; reports findings to the Working Group.
	Motorcycle Booking Working Group. The working group was established following the announcement of the motorcycle test review to consider the issues trainers identified with booking test appointments. Its aim was to progress the findings of the trainer booking review undertaken in 2009, resolve the inefficiencies of the scheme and plan the implementation of the changes.
	Established in 2011:
	The Strategic Framework for Road Safety, published in May 2011, set out a commitment to ensure that motorcycle instructors have the appropriate skills and qualifications. DSA established the Learning to Ride Working Group, involving key motorcycle stakeholders, to progress this work. The group is considering a wide range of proposals, including possible changes to the qualification and quality assurance arrangements for motorcycle instructors.
	Research Steering Group. Determines the methodology, quality assurance and governance of the research and reports this information to the Motorcycle Test Review Working Group.

Motorway Service Areas: Fuels

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase price competition among suppliers of fuel situated at motorway service stations.

Stephen Hammond: All motorway service areas are operated on a commercial basis by private companies and the Department for Transport has no powers to control prices charged at the sites.
	As the UK's independent competition authority, it is for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate any cases of possible anti-competitive behaviour. On 5 September 2012, the OFT issued a call for information on the UK petrol and diesel sector.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Clyde was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in September and October 2012.

Stephen Hammond: Staffing levels at Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre were below risk assessed levels on 34 occasions during September 2012 and on 41 occasions during October 2012.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how many hours Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Belfast will have had complete operational control of areas of coast currently co-ordinated by MRCC Clyde prior to November 2012.

Stephen Hammond: Pairing operations between Belfast and Clyde MRCCs have taken place on at least 36 occasions during the three years up to 1 November 2012.
	A more concentrated period of pairing operations has taken place during 2012 to prepare for the closure of Clyde. During October 2012, Belfast had complete control of Clyde's area of responsibility on 12 occasions, each occasion lasting on average seven hours.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Belfast and MRCC Stornoway staff will have been examined on their knowledge of the areas of coast currently co-ordinated by MRCC Clyde by the end of 2012.

Stephen Hammond: Staff at Belfast and Stornoway MRCCs will be formally examined on their knowledge of the areas they are taking responsibility for during December 2012.
	This examination is not a one-off exercise: in addition staff at both stations have been actively engaged in a programme of training since early 2012 to enhance their awareness of their new operational areas. This training programme has included:
	Scenario and competence based training developed by Clyde staff;
	Briefings from RNLI Lifeboat Operations Managers, HMCG Sector Managers and watchkeeper visits to the Clyde area;
	Live shadowing of Clyde incidents and reviews of Clyde incidents; and
	Full pairing sessions where operational responsibility has been handed over to Belfast.

Road Signs and Markings

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on the metrification of transport signs in the last three years; and what plans his Department has to convert transport signs to metric measurements in the UK.

Norman Baker: There has been no spending by this Department (including the Highways Agency) on the metrification of traffic signs in the last three years and there are no plans to change the law to allow the conversion of traffic signs in Great Britain to metric measurements. Traffic signing in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and subject to separate regulations.

Roads: Accidents

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic collisions were responded to by police in (a) the Northumbria police force area and (b) England in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2011 and (iv) 2012 to date; and how many such collisions involved a fatality.

Stephen Hammond: The Department only collects information relating to personal injury accidents, and therefore does not include damage-only accidents in its statistics.
	The numbers of personal injury accidents reported to Northumbria police, and in England, in each year since 2009 were as follows:
	
		
			 Reported number of accidents, Northumbria police and England, 2009-11 
			 Number of accidents 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 Northumbria police    
			 All accidents 3,958 3,599 3,426 
			 Fatal accidents 40 31 28 
			     
			 England    
			 All accidents 144,891 137,277 135,071 
			 Fatal accidents 1,745 1,460 1,509 
		
	
	In-year totals for 2012 have only been published at Great Britain level. The latest published figures cover the period to June 2012 and are available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/ras45-quarterly-statistics
	Figures for geographic areas within Great Britain for the year 2012 are due for publication in June 2013.

Roads: Accidents

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average annual cost to the public purse is of road traffic accidents.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport publishes the overall costs of road traffic accidents in “Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: 2011 Annual Report”, which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9275/rrcgb2011-02.pdf
	The figures separately identify medical and ambulance, and police costs; however costs to the public purse are not specifically identified.

Roads: Safety

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities in England have terminated the employment of all road safety officers since May 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not collect information about the employment of road safety officers. Local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide road safety, but decisions about whether to employ road safety officers is a matter for local authorities to determine.

Severn River Crossing: Tolls

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects tolls on the two Severn crossings to come to an end.

Stephen Hammond: The Government has not taken any decisions on the level of tolls when the current concession with Severn River Crossings plc ends.
	However, the Government has been clear that it will need to continue to toll after the current concession ends in order to recover costs incurred by UK taxpayers in relation to the crossings.

Shipping: Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions there have been maritime incidents involving vessels directed by (a) qualified registered pilots, (b) members of crew with a pilotage exemption certificate and (c) vessels without either a qualified registered pilot or someone with a pilotage exemption certificate in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Reported Investigated Pilot on board PEC holder on board No pilot or PEC holder on board 
			 2002 111 10 7 1 2 
			 2003 94 3 0 1 2 
			 2004 88 10 3 1 6 
			 2005 185 10 3 3 4 
			 2006 167 7 2 1 4 
			 2007 191 4 2 2 0 
			 2008 201 17 7 2 8 
			 2009 181 9 2 1 6 
			 2010 151 8 2 2 4 
			 2011 190 5 1 1 3 
			 2012(1) 113 2 0 2 0 
			 (1) To 20 November. Note: This answer is derived from the Marine Accident investigation Branch database. The search criteria for incidents reported was restricted to collisions, contacts and groundings in port or harbour areas, and on rivers and canals. For each year the number of these reports that resulted in an MAIB investigation is shown with a breakdown of when a pilot was on board, a pilotage exemption certificate (PEC) holder was on board, or when there was no pilot. This information is not recorded for incidents that do not progress to an investigation.

Trust Ports

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 15 September 2011, Official Report, columns 65-66WS, on the sale of trust ports, whether he has received any offers from UK or non-UK companies within the criteria published by his Department in August 2011.

Stephen Hammond: No such offers have been received. The Ports Act process would normally be initiated with an application by the relevant Harbour Authority to the Secretary of State for approval of a transfer scheme, and that application would be considered while having regard to the Department's published criteria.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of cancelling the award of the West Coast Mainline rail franchise; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department will remunerate fully bidders for the direct and reasonable costs of putting together their bids and expects this cost to be approximately £40 million. The Department expects additional costs from mobilising Directly Operated Railways (DOR), reissuing the tender and carrying out two independent reviews. The Department will monitor these costs closely and be fully transparent in keeping the House informed.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equal Pay

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to ensure employers in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England implement equal pay for women.

Jo Swinson: The Government are taking a range of steps, aimed at employers and employees, to ensure pay equality and tackle sex discrimination.
	We have launched a voluntary initiative to promote transparency on gender equality. Think, Act, Report asks private and voluntary sector employers to tackle barriers for women at work by taking a step by step approach to greater transparency on pay and other workplace issues. On 14 November, Government published a progress report which showed that over a million employees are working in organisations signed up to this initiative.
	Through the Employment and Regulatory Reform Bill we are introducing a power for Ministers to make regulations at a later date to require employment tribunals to order equal pay audits where an employer has been found to have breached equal pay laws.
	Finally, we are making it easier for SMEs and micro businesses to get good quality advice and support on equality and employment related matters through a series of regional events, including in St Helens on 23 January 2013. Short guides are also available on the Government Equalities Office website which explain the law for businesses and employees clearly.

PRIME MINISTER

Middle East

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 143W, on the Middle East, with which representatives of (a) the United Arab Emirates and (b) Saudi Arabia he discussed human rights; and which aspects of human rights were raised at those meetings.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 341, on human rights in the Middle East, if he will publish the responses he received from each government representative.

David Cameron: In the United Arab Emirates, I met the President of the UAE, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Foreign Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, in addition to a number of business and civic leaders. My meetings in Saudi Arabia involved King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Makkah Governor (Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz), Foreign Minister (Prince Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz), Special Envoy of the King (Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz), Chief of General Intelligence (Prince Bandar bin Sultan), Commander of the National Guard (Prince Miteb bin Abdullah), Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf), Minister of Interior (Prince Mohammed bin Nayef), and Vice Foreign Minister (Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah), together with representatives from the academic and legal communities. As I said in the previous answer I gave on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 143W, no subjects were off limits during our conversations, and the visit was focused on the objectives of supporting prosperity, security and open societies in the region.

DEFENCE

Syria

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not to commit British forces to combat in Syria.

Philip Hammond: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made clear to the House on 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 449-50, we believe that a diplomatic and political solution is necessary to deliver a sustainable solution to the crisis in Syria.
	However, while perusing such a solution, we will not rule out any option, in accordance with international law, that might save innocent lives in Syria and prevent the destabilisation of a region that is critical to the security of the UK.

Afghanistan

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the destination of equipment removed from Afghanistan will be as a result of the drawdown of troops.

Andrew Robathan: No decisions have yet been taken on the return of equipment from Afghanistan.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sea cadets there are in each part of the UK; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of sea cadets.

Mark Francois: Sea cadet units are independent charities in their own right. They are affiliated to the Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC), which in itself is a charity. The Sea Cadet Corps is run by the MSSC under a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Navy. As at 1 April 2012, there were 13,860(1) sea cadets in the UK. This number cannot be broken down into specific regions.
	Sea cadet numbers are growing at approximately 3% per annum. To encourage the continuing growth of numbers, the MSSC is seeking to make the Sea Cadet Corps experience more attractive, accessible and relevant.
	In addition, the cadet expansion programme launched in June 2012 includes the option for state secondary schools in England to open sea cadet units.
	(1) Source—National Statistics TSP7—UK Reserve Forces and MOD Sponsored Cadet Forces April 2012.

Armed Forces: Health

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to examine the physical and mental state of soldiers prior to deployment.

Mark Francois: holding answer 22 November 2012
	All armed forces personnel undergo a thorough programme of training and preparation prior to operational deployment. This will include checks on their health to ensure that they are both physically and mentally fit for operational service. No personnel will be deployed on a particular operation unless they have been medically assessed as fit to do so.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information newly-recruited members of the armed forces receive on how to report (a) rape and (b) sexual assault; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 October 2012, Official Report, columns 1073-74W, which advised that each service had a code which set out the values and standards expected from service personnel. In addition, the following information is given to newly recruited members.
	Army recruits receive, as part of their training, a leaflet detailing the Army Code of Conduct and Behaviour for Recruits. Although this does not specifically mention sexual assault or rape, it does talk about all forms of harassment whether physical or mental, and includes a full list of people and organisations the individual should go to if they have a complaint.
	Navy recruits receive training which covers the role of the Service Police and in addition are advised of the duty to report incidents where they suspect another person of committing an offence, and how they can make a complaint themselves, whether this concerns criminal conduct or a grievance about their treatment.
	Royal Air Force recruits receive information concerning the non-governmental organisations which provide advice and support to serving personnel such as the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), which provides a range of welfare services.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many calls to the Speak Out helpline have related to reports of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 October 2012, Official Report, columns 978-79W.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on culling deer and elk at BATUS Canada.

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence has had no discussions with his Canadian counterpart on culling deer and elk at British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada. This is a sovereign issue for the Canadian Government.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on gym and swimming pool facilities at BATUS Canada.

Andrew Robathan: All personnel stationed at British Army Training Unit Suffield have access to gym and sports facilities. This includes a swimming pool, which was closed recently due to a leak. Surveys and tests have been conducted to determine the source of the leak, the results of which are awaited. A decision will then be taken on the way ahead.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of BATUS Canada is in logistics training.

Andrew Robathan: Logistic units deploy to British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in order to train for their operational roles, as well as to provide real life support, for example, food, cleaning and laundry to the combat troops eg infantry, cavalry and Army Air Corps and to combat support, eg Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Signals units in their brigade. The provision of real life support to troops training at BATUS is both an essential enabler to other units' training as well as being a training opportunity in itself for those logistic units.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department has given to conducting winter training at BATUS Canada.

Andrew Robathan: Winter training in British Army Training Unit Suffield is currently not undertaken. Our requirement for armoured and armoured infantry battlegroup training can be met by exercising in the months from April to October.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what opportunities are available for training at BATUS Canada for UK-based armed forces pilots.

Andrew Robathan: British Army Training Unit Suffield offers many opportunities for UK armed forces helicopter pilots including integrated air and land training in support of multiple Battle Groups; Manned Airborne Surveillance in a unique environment developing pilots for forward deployment; and environmental training in an austere operating environment for all aspects of aviation operations.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made on replacing the welfare service at BATUS Canada; and if he will consider the potential to deliver this service through a partnership with SSAFA Forces Help.

Andrew Robathan: Welfare services in British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) are currently provided by the Unit Welfare Officer, Women's Royal Voluntary Service and the Canadian base padre. Each battle group training at BATUS will also have its own support staff.
	While discussions were held with SSAFA in April this year, no decisions have been made on the replacement of the welfare service.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to enable the armed forces of (a) Commonwealth countries, (b) European countries and (c) other UK allies to use the training ground facility at BATUS Canada.

Andrew Robathan: A number of allied nations already train at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) either separately or alongside the UK. On an annual basis, a Canadian Light Armoured Vehicle Company trains at BATUS alongside British Army units which results in a British and Canadian army unit gaining valuable interoperability training. Exchange officers from a variety of other nations, including NATO, EU and other allies also participate in UK training at BATUS.
	In addition the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all have the opportunity to participate in training at BATUS.

BATUS Canada

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what period is covered by the environmental agreement between the Army and the Canadian authorities at BATUS Canada; and whether the terms of that agreement can be changed.

Andrew Robathan: Environmental issues are covered in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Canadian Department of National Defence and the UK's Ministry of Defence. The MOU is open-ended and may be renegotiated at any time with the mutual consent of both parties.

Consultants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were contracted as consultants to his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the highest level of remuneration paid to any such person in each of those years was.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 November 2012
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) specifies its required output to be achieved at a particular price on consultancy contracts, as defined by the Cabinet Office. The MOD does not specify the number of people to be employed nor their individual remuneration. These are matters for the contractor.

Danny Nightingale

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is providing the family of Sergeant Danny Nightingale.

Mark Francois: holding answer 19 November 2012
	Welfare provision is being made to the family of Sergeant Daniel Nightingale by the Army. This is being delivered through a combined effort by in-service unit welfare officers, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families Association, and the welfare team at the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester.

Defence: Finance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the 2012-13 defence budget; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: The 2012-13 budget was fixed as part of spending review 2010, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The total in near cash terms is £34.4 billion.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which projects being delivered for his Department by (a) Babcock, (b) Boeing, (c) Cobham, (d) the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, (e) Finmeccanica, (f) General Dynamics, (g) Kelloggs-Brown-Root, (h) Lockheed Martin (i) Marshall Aerospace, (j) Northrup Grumman, (k) Rolls-Royce, (l) Thales and (m) Ultra Electronics are running over budget; and by how much in each case.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 13 November 2012
	The information will take time to collate and the commercial sensitivity of the data could prevent full disclosure. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to provide further information.

Defence: Scotland

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by (a) his Department and (b) the armed forces in Scotland.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 9 November 2012
	As at 1 July 2012 there were 11,020 regular armed forces personnel, 2,820 reservists and 4,480 civilians employed in Scotland by the Ministry of Defence.

Depleted Uranium

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the future of CHARM 3 following the expiry of its propellant charge in 2013.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Charm 3 propellant charge is subject to a Life Extension programme. In 2013, this will provide evidence from analysis and testing about whether the safe life of the charge can be extended or whether to replace stocks.

Devonport Dockyard

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment in infrastructure and machinery was made by his Department in HMNB Devonport dockyard in each year from 2008 to 2010.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Ministry of Defence does not hold centrally details of how much has been invested in Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport in each year from 2008 to 2010. The information will need to be collected from the relevant teams and will take some time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member when the figures are available.

European Fighter Aircraft

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mix of weapon systems can be deployed on the pylons of the Typhoon at any one time; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Typhoon pylons can accommodate any of the following weapon systems:
	Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM),
	Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM),
	1,000 lb Enhanced Paveway II guided bomb
	Typhoon's pylon configuration provides the flexibility for the aircraft to deploy a number of permutations of these weapon systems in dedicated air-to-air or air-to-surface roles; or in a 'swing' role allowing the prosecution of both air and ground targets in a single mission. The exact mix of weapons is optimised to reflect operational requirements.

Germany

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria will be used for the decision on whether or not to reduce the strength of the 16th Tank Transporter Squadron in Germany.

Andrew Robathan: Under the strategic defence and security review it was announced that the Army would withdraw from Germany by 2020 and reduce its heavy armour by around 40% and heavy artillery by around 35%. This will lead to a reduced requirement for the capability provided by heavy equipment transporters and 16 Tank Transporter Squadron will be withdrawn from the order of battle.

Middle East

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any part of the exercise Austere Challenge 2012 took place in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and whether permission was received for the exercise to take place.

Andrew Robathan: Austere Challenge 2012 was a joint US-Israeli anti-ballistic missile exercise. The UK was not involved in the exercise and, as such, the Ministry of Defence has no knowledge of whether areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories were involved or whether permission was applied for or received.

Middle East

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement UK armed forces personnel have in Operation Austere Challenge.

Andrew Robathan: None.

Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the future of the Sentinel aircraft after the Afghanistan conflict in respect of continued active service.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff), on 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 601W, to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).

Military Bases

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel are based at (a) NSA Menwith Hill, (B) USAF Lakenheath, (c) USAF Mildenhall, (d) USAF Feltwell, (e) USAF Molesworth, (f) USAF Fairford, (g) USAF Croughton, (h) USAF Barford St John, (i) Bleinheim Crescent and (j) USAF Barford.

Mark Francois: The numbers of RAF personnel based at the stations listed are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Base Number of RAF personnel 
			 RAF Croughton 1 
			 RAF Fairford  
			 RAF Welford  
			 RAF Barford St John  
			 Blenheim Crescent  
			   
			 RAF Lakenheath 1 
			 RAF Feltwell  
			   
			 RAF Menwith Hill 3 
			   
			 RAF Mildenhall 4 
			   
			 RAF Alconbury 1 
			 RAF Molesworth 2 
		
	
	RAF Fairford, RAF Welford, RAF Barford St John and Blenheim Crescent are administered by RAF Croughton, and RAF Feltwell is administered by RAF Lakenheath; as such there are no RAF personnel based at these sites.
	RAF Molesworth is also administered separately, by RAF Alconbury, although there are two RAF personnel based at RAF Molesworth.
	There is no additional base at RAF Barford, beyond RAF Barford St John.

Military Exercises

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were injured while on army training exercises at (a) BATUS Canada, (b) BATUK Kenya and (c) facilities within the UK in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: The following table shows the numbers of service personnel that were identified as receiving injuries while on training exercises at British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) Canada, British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) and within the UK. Across the same period a further 61 injuries have occurred within Canada and 49 within Kenya, the exact location of which are not specified.
	
		
			 Location 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11(1) 2011-12 Total 
			 BATUS Canada 72 92 68 222 103 557 
			 BATUK Kenya 0 11 10 19 24 64 
			 UK 437 712 733 1,000 817 3,699 
			 (1) The significant increase in reported accidents in 2010-11 was due predominantly to the introduction of a more comprehensive approach to accident reporting and for BATUS Canada a 50% increase in the number of training exercises that year. Therefore, the results for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are not directly comparable with previous years.

Navy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent incidents have been attended by the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron.

Andrew Robathan: Between 1 November 2011 and 1 November 2012 the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron were engaged in the following incidents:
	
		
			 Type of incident Number 
			 Routine inspections of fishing vessels within British fishery limits (UK economic fishery zone) to enforce UK and EU fisheries legislation 1,195 
			 Infringements found for prosecution purposes 312 
			 Miscellaneous fishing incidents 2 
			 Non-fishing incidents 2 
			 Search and rescue incidents 10

Norway

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of winter training in Norway in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: Navy Command has incurred the following costs in respect of winter training in Norway:
	
		
			 Financial year Total (£ million) 
			 2007-08 6.06 
			 2008-09 0.07 
			 2009-10 4.20 
			 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 0.38 
		
	
	Figures include costs such as travel and subsistence, clothing, equipment support, accommodation stores, in country living expenses and allowances, and fuel. Excluded are costs such as deployed ships' costs service and civilian manpower, ammunition, and communication and information services which cannot be separately identified for this specific training.
	Over the last five years, brigade level deployments to Afghanistan have resulted in a variation in the levels of participation in Norwegian training. This has led to lower or no costs in some years.
	The Army's Commando trained units and personnel also participate in the winter deployments and incur costs. It is not possible to split these costs out from the units' wider budgets.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many security incidents involving the armed forces occurred during the London 2012 Olympic Games sailing events at Weymouth.

Andrew Robathan: There were no security related incidents that involved the armed forces during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Weymouth.

Poland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence over what period the army conducted training exercises in Poland; and for what reasons Poland is no longer used for army training exercises.

Andrew Robathan: The Army conducted training exercises in Poland during the period 1993 to 2007 and we remain grateful to Poland for hosting our training in their country.
	The Army currently focuses its training in those locations that best meet the needs of preparing for operations in Afghanistan.

Press: Subscriptions

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence accesses a pan-Government framework contract for the purchase of print and electronic journals on subscription. The contract is primarily used to purchase academic, technical, medical and trade publications for the MOD colleges, training centres, technical information centres and medical units, including those in operational theatres. A small number of recreational titles are taken for use in Personnel Recovery Centres. Expenditure under this contract for FY 2011-12 was £617,520.
	Unit newspaper requirements tend to be fluid and subject to short-notice amendment. They are not therefore suitable for fixed-term subscription. MOD units may make their own supply arrangements with local distributors. Information on such arrangements is not held centrally and because the MOD employs around a quarter of a million personnel across several thousand units at multiple locations in the UK and worldwide could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

RAF Prestwick

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of RAF Prestwick.

Mark Francois: An announcement on the future of RAF Prestwick will be made in due course.

Sickness Absence

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes a robust approach to managing civilian sickness absence. Occupational health and well-being advice and support is available to all employees and line managers.
	Sickness absence rates by average working days lost (AWDL) per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee in the MOD for the 12 months ending 30 June 2012 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Grade (Equivalent)(1) Average working days lost (FTE)(2,3) 
			 Administrative Assistant 11.68 
			 Administrative Officer 9.68 
			 Executive Officer 7.89 
			 Higher Executive Officer 6.01 
			 Senior Executive Officer 4.91 
			 Grade 7 3.80 
			 Grade 6 3.13 
		
	
	
		
			 Senior Civil Servant 1.31 
			 Unknown(4) 6.28 
			 (1) Equivalent civil service grades have been used to amalgamate MOD non-industrial, industrial and trading fund grades, according to Cabinet Office definitions. (2) Data presented reflect the current Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum absence of 225 days per person, and exclude data for weekends, annual leave and bank holidays. Excludes personnel on zero pay. (3) Average days lost per FTE are calculated by dividing the total working days lost by a weighted average of the first of the month strengths for the period (the strengths at the start and end of the month receiving a weighting of 0.5 and the strengths of the interim months a weighting of 1). (4 )Unknown = when grades are not recorded on the personnel system. 
		
	
	A breakdown of the average working days lost per month is not available as the MOD calculates the figure over a rolling 12-month period to take account of any seasonality.
	Grade equivalent rates, as used in Cabinet Office absence reporting, include non-industrial, industrial and trading fund personnel, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilians for whom sickness absence data are not readily available.

Trident

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 115W, to the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, for what reasons his Department has not published an annual report to Parliament on the Trident Renewal Programme; and when he expects to publish the report.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is committed to updating Parliament annually on progress with the United Kingdom's future nuclear deterrent. We intend to publish the next update shortly.

Military Training: Tyres

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial benefits of purchasing tyres for use at overseas training grounds locally.

Andrew Robathan: No assessment has been made of purchasing tyres locally for use at overseas training grounds. Military units training overseas are supplied routinely through the Ministry of Defence supply chain system, which ensures that the correct items are supplied, to the right standard and economies of scale, across the range of vehicle variants.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to offer assistance to families affected by drone strikes; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Currently the UK operates armed remotely piloted air systems only in Afghanistan. The protection of the Afghan civilian population is at the core of our military strategy in Afghanistan. International Security Assistance Force and UK forces have strict operating procedures to minimise the risk of civilian casualties occurring and to investigate any incidents that do happen.
	There is a system in place for handling claims for compensation brought against the Ministry of Defence by Afghan civilians and we have an area claims officer located in Lashkar Gah. This claims officer travels throughout Helmand province and makes visits further afield to ensure that all claims receive attention.
	We ensure that Afghan locals are aware of the claims scheme available to them through announcements on local radio and leaflets distributed by the military stabilisation support teams, who collate the details of claims that can not reach the area claims officer. Provincial and district governors are also aware of, and support, the compensation process.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has provided armed and unarmed drone assistance outside (a) Afghanistan and (b) Libya in the last three years.

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of his Department's use of (a) armed and (b) unarmed remotely piloted air systems outside Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether UK pilots are permitted to carry out armed drone strikes other than as part of ongoing military operations in Afghanistan.

Andrew Robathan: Her Majesty's Government do not use armed remotely piloted air systems against terrorist suspects outside Afghanistan. However, UK personnel flew armed remotely piloted air systems missions against Gaddafi's forces in Libya in 2011, in support of the NATO humanitarian mission authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2012, Official Report, column 428W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, whether he has any plans to deploy Scan Eagle on (a) Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and (b) any other ship in the Royal Navy.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Scan Eagle Unmanned Air System is not in service with UK armed forces, and the Ministry of Defence currently has no plan to acquire it.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces to Question 178 of the inquiry by the Defence Committee into Future Maritime Surveillance, Session 2012-13, HC 110, and Session 2010-12, HC 1918-i, what the evidential basis was for his statement that it would be possible to fly unmanned aerial vehicles from the new aircraft carriers for surveillance purposes.

Philip Dunne: Unmanned air vehicles (UAV) have been operating in several navies since 2005. As UAVs are generally lighter than manned aircraft it is likely that they could be launched from our new carriers during their planned 50-year life. UAVs have varying sizes, endurance and capabilities, and are constantly evolving. Although not all would be suitable for carrier operations, the UK has previously conducted trials with a Scan Eagle UAV flown from a frigate and is currently considering another such concept demonstration.

USA

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external contracts the British Defence Staff have in the US; and what the monetary value is of each contract.

Philip Dunne: There are two procurement routes available to the British Defence Staff (BDS) based in the United States; Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS)
	FMS is the process for foreign governments and international organisations to purchase military articles and services from the US Government. The number of extant FMS cases is as follows:
	
		
			  $ billion/number 
			 Extant cases value ($ billion) 6.4 
			 Number of open cases as at October 2012 436 
		
	
	DCS is a US-based United Kingdom Defence Procurement Office (UKDPO) commercial acquisition service encompassing the full range of activities normally undertaken by UK commercial staff, but offering additional services in respect of payment, law of contract, licensing and shipping.
	The detail of individual DCS contracting is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Warships

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) frigates and (b) destroyers in the fleet by 2020.

Philip Dunne: The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review stipulated that the Royal Navy will operate a fleet of 19 destroyers and frigates in 2020, comprising six Type 45 destroyers and 13 Type 26 frigates.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 124378 tabled on 18 October 2012 for answer on 22 October 2012.

Andrew Robathan: The Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), replied to my hon. Friend on 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 494W. I apologise for the delay.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written answer of 12 September 2012, Official Report, column 259W, on animal experiments, if she will instruct the five Home Office Inspectorate offices to publish the information they hold under section 19b on the project licences authorising the 235 procedures using cats reported in the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2011.

James Brokenshire: We have no plans to do so. The information in the project licences was provided in confidence by the applicants and Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 applies.
	Section 24 prohibits the disclosure of confidential information relating to the use of animals in scientific procedures by Home Office Ministers and officials other than in the discharge of their functions under the 1986 Act.

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what method is used to calculate the severity limits for protocols authorising experiments on cats, in respect of the information provided by applicants as part of the project licence process, on (a) the anticipated pain, harm and distress expected to be experienced by the cats, (b) measures to prevent or control occurrence and severity and (c) practicable and realistic humane end-points.

James Brokenshire: The severity limit for each protocol is determined by the upper limit of the expected adverse effects that may be encountered by a protected animal, taking into account the measures specified in the licence for avoiding and controlling adverse effects. It represents the worst potential outcome for any animal subjected to the protocol, even if it may only be experienced by a small number of the animals to be used.
	In assessing the severity limit of a protocol, account is taken of the effect of all the procedures (whether regulated or not) applied to each animal or group of animals; the nature and extent of the likely adverse effects; the action taken to mitigate these effects; and the humane endpoints to be applied.
	Further information on the categorisation of severity limits can be found in paragraph 5.42 of the published Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321).

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology was used for the cost-benefit assessments of proposed scientific procedures on cats that were conducted as part of the project licence process in 2011; and if she will publish those assessments.

James Brokenshire: In assessing benefit, the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the proposed programme of work is scientifically valid and is likely to meet its stated objectives. The potential benefit relates to the extent to which man, animals, plants or the environment may benefit if the project is wholly successful in meeting its declared objectives. It relates to the value that may be placed on the specific outcomes of the programme of work, rather than the importance of the general area of activity.
	Cost is considered as the adverse welfare effects (pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm) likely to be experienced by the protected animals used during the course of the study. Further information on cost/benefit assessment is set out in Appendix I of the published Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321).
	We have no plans to publish cost/benefit assessments. These assessments discuss confidential information submitted in applications and section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 applies.

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department undertakes inspections to ensure that scientific procedures on cats do not have excessive adverse effects on the animals and do not exceed their permitted severity levels; and if she will publish the findings of any such inspections undertaken in the last year.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office Inspectorate implements a risk-based approach to inspection for all establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	Inspectors may review records of procedures, as well as viewing procedures in progress. Where severity limits or the other controls in licences have been or are likely to be breached, project licence holders must notify the Home Office as required by Standard Condition 8 of their project licence authority.
	Failure to do so would be treated as a potential infringement and subject to a full investigation by the Inspectorate.
	We have no plans to publish inspection reports.

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the extent to which scientific procedures on animals performed under the project licence authorities achieve the expected outcomes and benefits; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: As part of the inspection process, Home Office Inspectors review records of procedures, as well as viewing procedures in progress, the adverse effects on the animals, the humane endpoints being applied and the review of the authorised protocols within the relevant project licence. Any discrepancies in the expected outcomes and benefits are investigated and action taken where appropriate.
	In addition, under standard condition 11, project licence holders must submit details of publications resulting from licensed programmes of work, and achievements from previous work conducted under project licences are considered as part of the assessment of applications for new project licences.

BAE Systems

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department paid to BAE Systems Detica in the each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 26 October 2012
	The Home Department does not hold any contracts under the specific name ‘BAE Systems Detica' but since 2008-09 has paid the following amounts to its subsidiaries:
	
		
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2008-09 5,607,630.65 
			 2009-10 11,950,623.62 
			 2010-11 8,564,901.80 
			 2011-12 13,397,425.30 
			 2012-13 7,445,187.48 
			 Total 46,965,768.85

Counter-terrorism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the work undertaken by local authorities in England and Wales in delivering the Prevent agenda.

James Brokenshire: Ongoing assessment is made by the Prevent team within the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) of local authorities delivery of Prevent at a local level. This includes quarterly reporting on Prevent co-ordinator and project activities, and bi-annual performance reporting.
	OSCT Prevent assess that the Prevent work undertaken by local authorities is broadly on track.

Crime Prevention: Education

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Education measures to educate teenage boys about relationships with women in order to avoid violence against women in later years.

Jeremy Browne: Government Departments regularly discuss further measures to progress our strategy to end violence against women and girls. The Government are committed to challenging attitudes which foster violence against women and girls.
	Last year we ran two national campaigns which challenged teenager's attitudes to relationship abuse and rape. Due to their success we will be re-running the Rape Prevention Campaign from 1 December 2012.

Criminal Investigation

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many joint investigation teams have been established between the UK and other member states since 2002.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The total number of joint investigation teams (JITs) established between the UK and member states since 2002 is not held centrally. However, since 1 October 2010 the EU can provide financial support for JITs. From information provided by Eurojust, which supports the establishment and operation of EU JITs, the UK has had 20 JITs financially supported under this programme.

Cybercrime

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the nature and frequency of cyber-attacks against her Department's website during 2012; what security breaches occurred; what loss of service users experienced in each case; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Since April 2012, the Home Office website has been the subject of a number of ‘denial of service' attacks, which seek to make the website unavailable by bombarding it with traffic.
	Website defences have been closely monitored and improved where necessary, but there have been some occasions where the website has become unavailable. This has usually been for just a few minutes, but a sustained attack over 7 and 8 April led to the website being difficult to access for a number of hours.
	The Home Office website contains information about Home Office policy and corporate information such as its business plan. No transactions with members of the public are conducted through the site. Most of the attacks occurred outside normal working hours when the use of the site is low so the impact on users is likely to have been limited. The site was not hacked and no other systems were affected. At no point was there any risk to any personal or other secure information held on Home Office IT systems.

Firearms: Forensic Science

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress has been made in the Forensic Science Regulator's review of the historical use of the sodium rhodizonate test as a test for firearm discharge residues; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) decided to undertake an initial review of the historical use of the sodium rhodizonate test and sought advice on that matter from a forensic science supplier. That advice has been received, the FSR is in the process of drafting his report and expects it to be completed in late January.

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) her Department and (b) the bodies for which she is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

James Brokenshire: The information is as follows:
	(a) In the financial year 2011-12, the Home Office had in excess of 200 grant streams The 12 largest grants in terms of spend, from the 2011-12 financial year, are listed below for the Home Department (including our agencies):
	Crime and Policing Group:
	Police Main Resource Grant (England)
	Serious Organised Crime Agency
	National Policing Improvement Agency
	Neighbourhood Policing and Police Community Support Officer Grant
	Police Main Resource Grant (Wales)
	Police Special Grant
	Police Capital Grant Allocation
	FSS Liquidation Aid Payment (1st Liquidation Aid) (FSS Grant)
	Local Services Support Grant (Area-Based Grant)
	Office of Security and Counter Terrorism:
	Counter Terrorism Policing
	London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Venue Security
	UK Border Agency:
	Unaccompanied asylum seeking children
	On grant payments awarded to Scotland, this information would be available only at disproportionate cost.
	(b) The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
	During the 2012-13 financial year, the Equality and Human Rights Commission have a Strategic Grants programme covering 33 countrywide organisations.
	Three of these organisations are in Scotland
	Glasgow Disability Alliance
	Kingsway Health and Wellbeing Centre
	LGBT Health and Wellbeing

Immigration: Married People

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice she has received on the potential effect of the opinion of the European Court of Human Rights in paragraph 55 of its judgment in Hode and Abdi v United Kingdom if that judgment becomes final, on the Government's policy that a refugee resident in the UK must have a minimum income before they may be joined by a post-flight spouse from abroad; and whether she plans to appeal the judgment to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

Mark Harper: Careful consideration is being given to the full implications of the judgment in Hode and Abdi to determine whether any further action is appropriate. That consideration will include an assessment of the court's finding at paragraph 56 of its judgment in this case, that:
	“the situation giving rise to the breach (of human rights) no longer exists as the Immigration Rules have subsequently been amended...”.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what representations she has received from police forces who provided extra support in place of G4S during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games;
	(2)  if she will reimburse those police forces who provided extra support to cover G4S Olympic duties.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 6 November 2012
	I am grateful to the police service for its willingness to step in at short notice to undertake venue security duties, for their professionalism and the contribution that they made to a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Home Office has received no representations specifically on this issue from police forces.
	G4S have committed to covering additional costs incurred by the police and armed forces as a result of their failing to meet their contractual guarding commitments at Games venues in full.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from dissatisfied contractors employed by G4S during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

James Brokenshire: G4S' contract for security at Olympic and Paralympic venues is a matter between it and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

Pay

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees in her Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 21 November 2012
	As at 30 September 2012, 93 Home Office employees are paid a base annual salary of £80,000 or higher. This figure includes 42 employees who are paid a salary of £100,000 or higher.

Police and Crime Commissioners

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for election material relating to the police and crime commissioner elections had been made via (a) the telephone number 0800107070708 and (b) www.choosemypcc.org.uk by 5pm on 14 November 2012; how many responses to such requests were dispatched by that time; and how many of these responses were sent by (i) first-class and (ii) second-class post.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 November 2012
	As of 17:00 on 14 November 2012, there were 122,215 completed leaflet requests of which:
	(a) 90,191 were made via the PCC candidate information order line 0800 1070708
	(b) 32,024 were made online via
	www.choosemypcc.org.uk
	By 17:00 on 14 November, 120,361 leaflets had been dispatched in response to these requests. Of the leaflets dispatched:
	(i) 69,715 were sent by first class post
	(ii) 50,628 were sent by second class post
	Of the total requests for leaflets, 1,854 were not completed due to the fact that they were either spam orders, bulk candidate requests or orders for areas where elections were not taking place.

Police and Crime Commissioners: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 764W, on police and crime commissioners: Wales, under what budget headings costs incurred in respect of a second set of English-only ballot papers in Wales fell.

Damian Green: holding answer 6 November 2012
	The Home Office has agreed to meet reasonable contingency costs, estimated to be about £350,000, for postal ballot papers in Wales. That money will all fall under the budget heading “Printing and otherwise producing the ballot papers” subsequent to article 5(3)(c) of The Police and Crime Commissioner elections (Local Returning Officers' and Police Area Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2012.

Police: Information and Communications Technology

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of police hours saved through the introduction of personal digital assistants for police officers.

Damian Green: This information is not held centrally. Chief constables are responsible for securing the benefits achievable from technology provided for officers. However, evaluation by the National Policing Improvement Agency of the impact of devices issued as part of the Mobile Information Programme suggested that, on average, mobile devices such as personal digital assistants enabled police officers to spend 18 minutes longer per shift out of the police station.

Police: Road Traffic Control

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police forces have reduced the number of traffic patrols undertaken since 2010;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure that traffic policing remains a priority for police forces;
	(3)  what recent estimate she has made of the potential effects on the number of road traffic collisions of reductions in traffic patrols.

Damian Green: Information on traffic policing is not collected centrally. It will be for police and crime commissioners to set and update a police and crime plan for their areas and to ensure that the policing needs of their communities are met as effectively as possible. How traffic policing is carried out is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.

Police: Surveillance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on the personal information that undercover officers are required to pass on to supervisors where that information has been gathered from surveillance targets with whom the undercover officer is in a sexual relationship; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The requirements for supervising and managing the deployment of undercover officers are set out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and its related statutory code of practice. In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers produces its own guidance on managing undercover deployments. Senior police officers have made clear in recent months that it is not acceptable for the police to engage in sexual activity with members of the public, and that this is not authorised conduct.

Press: Subscriptions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which magazines, journals and newspapers her Department subscribes.

James Brokenshire: The titles of the newspapers, magazines and periodicals to which the Home Department subscribes can be found in the following list. There are other publications ordered on an ad hoc basis but this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since this question was tabled, an order for Private Eye magazine has been cancelled.
	Addiction
	Alcohol & Alcoholism
	Drugs—Education Prevention & Policy
	European Journal of Criminology
	Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies
	Journal of Interpersonal Violence
	Policing & Society
	Pyschology Crime & Law
	Gunmart Magazine
	Guns & Accessories
	Journal of Forensic Sciences
	Local Government Chronicle
	Migration News
	Police & Constabulary Almanac
	Police Review
	Shooting Times & Country
	The Daily Express
	The Daily Mail
	The Daily Mirror
	The Daily Telegraph
	Financial Times
	The Guardian
	Independent
	The Sun
	The Times
	The Economist
	The Spectator
	The New Statesman
	Management Today
	PR Week
	Prospect
	New Scientist

Prostitution

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department has allocated to proactively assisting men and women to exit prostitution by recipient organisation in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are committed to tackling the harm and exploitation associated with prostitution. The cross-government Action Plan to end Violence Against Women and Girls sets out our commitment to ensure that those involved in prostitution are protected from violence, free from exploitation and, where appropriate, given help to leave.
	The Home Office does not directly fund organisations to proactively assist men and women to exit prostitution. Local agencies are in the best position to make an assessment of the characteristics and issues of prostitution in their local area. To empower them to do so and to respond effectively, in October 2011 the Home Office published a review of effective practice in terms of: policing, exiting, minimising harm and general multi-agency working. Our review highlighted for local areas how to best support those who wish to exit prostitution.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the Scottish Government's decision to remove the wood biomass subsidy for biomass electricity plants over 10 megawatts; and if he will consider adopting a similar model.

Gregory Barker: As set out in our consultation on “Biomass Electricity and Combined Heat and Power plants—ensuring sustainability and affordability”(1), we do not consider that removing the subsidy for plants over 10 MW offers value for money for the consumer. Small plants are more expensive per MWh than large plants at generating electricity. Where local feedstocks are being used, a cap on plant size can also prevent plants from being optimised to match both local need and the local supply chain. In order to ensure value for money, affordability and sustainability, the consultation therefore proposed a supplier cap in order to limit total generating capacity from new build dedicated biomass. This will allow shovel-ready projects which can achieve financial close this financial year to proceed. We will publish our response to this consultation shortly.
	(1) http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/ro-banding/6339-consultation-on-biomass-electricity--combined-hea.pdf

Biofuels

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contact his Department has had with energy generators on the quantities of wood they require for wood biomass energy generation.

Gregory Barker: As part of discussions with generators on bioenergy deployment, the Department regularly inquires about the intended feedstock type and volume.
	Under the renewables obligation, generators of 50 kW capacity and above are required to provide information concerning the biomass feedstocks they have used, including wood other than waste, on an annual basis. This information includes the material type, form, mass or volume used and its country of origin.
	Annual sustainability reports summarising the collated data received from biomass generators, together with the underpinning datasets, are available from the Ofgem website:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/RenewablObl/FuelledStations/Pages/FS.aspx

Biofuels

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what factors are taken into consideration in assessing the total carbon emissions of wood burning for biomass energy.

Gregory Barker: The Government carried out an assessment of the total carbon emissions of wood combustion for biomass energy to inform their UK Bioenergy Strategy published on 26 April 2012:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/bioenergy/strategy/strategy.aspx
	The factors taken into consideration include:
	The GHG emissions from carbon stock changes in forests
	The quantity of harvested carbon utilised (and hence sequestered) in wood products
	The GHG emissions associated with forest operations
	The GHG emissions associated with wood harvesting and extraction
	The GHG emissions associated with wood transport
	The GHG emissions associated with wood processing
	The GHG emissions associated with disposal of harvested wood products at end-of-life.

Carbon Emissions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had on the Final Investment Decisions enabling process; what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure transparency in these negotiations; and what role the Panel of Technical Experts will have in the process.

John Hayes: A number of developers (including new nuclear, renewables, and early stage carbon capture and storage developers) have expressed interest in the Final Investment Decisions (FID) enabling process. The Government has entered into dialogue with NNB Generation Company Ltd through this process. These discussions are ongoing, and no offers of comfort have been made.
	The Government are committed to transparency over the terms of any investment instruments offered through the FID-enabling process. The Energy and Climate Change Select Committee's report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Energy Bill made recommendations on this issue and our full response will be included in the overarching response to the Committee's recommendations, including the question of any role for independent experts.

Climate Change

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the policies of (a) China, (b) India, (c) South Africa and (d) Brazil on climate change; and what assessment he has made of the potential effects of those policies on the UK's international commitments.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr Stuart), on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 118W.
	India has an international commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 20% to 25% by 2020 compared to business as usual levels. We estimate that national policies from “Missions” under the June 2008 National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) will deliver emissions savings that would more than meet this target by 2020. In the 2011 UNFCCC mitigation workshops, India estimated that its National Mission for Enhancing Energy Efficiency should produce savings or 25 MT CO2 by 2015; and that actions currently under way or planned—the National Solar mission, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy, and Green India mission—would save 275 MT CO2 each year by 2020. Furthermore, India has brought in strong pro-market measures to deliver its ambitious solar energy goals of installing 20 GW of solar capacity by 2022, including 2 GW off-grid solar.
	South Africa has made international pledges that would deliver a deviation of 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025 from business as usual levels, which will require policies to reduce the energy intensiveness of its industrial base and to improve its energy efficiency. Challenges with South Africa’s infrastructure and the ongoing poverty gap have meant that limited progress has been made towards the pledged targets. However, South Africa has identified the need to improve the harmonisation of policy, and the National Climate Response White Paper approved by Cabinet on 14 October 2011 seeks to start a process to mainstream climate change into government policy, including the introduction of carbon budgets on various sectors. The paper formalizes the range for peaking by 2020 to 2025, with a ceiling on 614 MT CO2 (currently SA emissions are around 540 MT CO2, essentially placing a cap on emissions). A major 20-year electricity plan IRP2010 has been issued, aiming for 17,800 MW of renewable energy by 2030, which equates to 42% of all new plants coming on stream over this period, and is up for review in 2013.
	Brazil has committed to reduce its emissions by 36% to 39% on BAU in 2020 which equates to the equivalent of 1.2 GT in avoided emissions based on the Brazilian Government’s figures. In July 2012 the Brazil Government’s update confirmed that it is already halfway to achieving the 36% target. Most of Brazil’s reductions will come from tackling emissions in the forestry sector. This reflects the profile of its emissions: historically, nearly three-quarters have come from this sector. Brazil has reduced deforestation by 77% over the past seven years and has stated that it is on track to meet its target of reducing deforestation in the Amazon to 20% of the historical average by 2020. These reductions have resulted in an estimated 34% reduction in emissions as a whole since 2005.
	I am encouraged by the action being taken in many countries, but if we are to meet the global target of limited temperature increases to below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels then it will be important for all countries to take further action. That is why a global legally binding agreement is needed, to ensure that all countries undertake their fair share. My Department, and the rest of the Government are playing their parts in working with these countries to negotiate a new agreement that will come into force in 2020. In addition, we need to encourage those countries yet to make an emissions reduction pledge to do so, and for countries that have made pledges to deliver them and at their top end. For the EU that means that the UK will continue to press for the EU to increase its 2020 target to a 30% reduction from 1990 levels.

Cold Weather Payments

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households eligible for cold weather payments in the event of a particularly cold winter in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency in 2012-13.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	A table—‘Estimated numbers of qualifiers for cold weather payments in 2012/13’—will be placed in the Library. It shows the estimated number of qualifiers for payments at each weather station in the UK during the 2012-13 cold weather payment season. These are the estimated number of payments that will be made for each trigger of the weather station.
	Information on the number of people qualifying for cold weather payments is only available for the area covered by each weather station and is not available at parliamentary constituency or local authority level.
	The table also shows the parliamentary constituencies that overlap with the area covered by each weather station. The boundaries of weather station coverage areas and parliamentary constituencies do not match exactly so some constituencies will be covered by more than one weather station.
	Equivalent information showing the local authorities covered by each weather station is not available.

Energy Bill

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he intends to publish the impact assessment of the Energy Bill at the same time as the Bill.

John Hayes: Yes.

Energy: Complaints

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Ofgem in dealing with customer complaints about energy companies.

Gregory Barker: Ofgem does not have a direct role in dealing with individual consumer complaints, which are dealt with by the company itself. Energy companies must comply with complaint handling standards set by Ofgem.
	If the company fails to offer a satisfactory resolution domestic and micro business customers can then pursue the matter with the Ombudsman Services: Energy. The ombudsman provides Ofgem with information on consumer complaints in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations. Ofgem uses this information as part of its regular market monitoring activity undertaken to ensure energy companies are complying with their licence obligations.

Energy: Complaints

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of customer complaints procedures operated by energy companies.

Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers and officials receive a number of representations about gas and electricity companies.
	Individual consumer complaints are dealt with by the energy company itself by following its formal complaint process. If the company fails to offer a satisfactory resolution domestic and micro business customers can then pursue the matter with the Energy ombudsman. In 2011-12, the ombudsman received 7,403 completed complaint forms of which 6,608 were resolved either informally or formally. Larger business customers can address complaints by using the legal system.

Garages and Petrol Stations

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether there is an approved system for the measurement of motor transport fuel delivered by oil suppliers to retailers; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as the measurement of motor fuel falls under the responsibility of this Department.
	All measurements of volume which are made for trade purposes are covered by the provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985. Suppliers are required to use measuring equipment which is fair and just and does not deliver short measure.
	The Liquid Fuel Carried by Road Tanker Order 1985 requires documentation to accompany the delivery of the motor fuel to forecourt which identifies the type and quantity of fuel to be delivered. This is also a requirement under Section 12 of the Hydrocarbon Oil Regulations 1973 (as amended) to issue a delivery note where motor fuel is removed from a refinery or bonded warehouse.
	Measurement of supplies of transport fuel to retailers typically occurs when fuel is metered into road tankers by gantry meters at the oil refinery or oil storage depot. Unlike fuel dispensers used to deliver fuel to the motorist, there is no specific regulation of this type of equipment under the 1985 Act and therefore they are not required to be of approved design and subject to verification. However, where meters are used for the determination of fuel duty taxation, they are required to meet detailed technical requirements of HM Revenue and Customs as set out in Notice 179.

Garages and Petrol Stations

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of petrol forecourts in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

John Hayes: In April 2011 there were 8,765 petrol filling stations open in the UK, compared to 8,884 sites in April 2010, according to Experian Catalist reports held by the Department.
	DECC has commissioned a report on the retail market for road fuels to develop the evidence base on the impact of structural changes to the market over recent years. I have committed to write to all Members of Parliament with its findings later this year.

Green Deal Scheme

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how will he assess the performance of the Green Deal Finance Company.

Gregory Barker: The Green Deal Finance Company is a private organisation, as such it will be TGDFC board and management’s responsibility to monitor its performance. As a broadly based membership organisation, we would anticipate scrutiny from the industry.
	DECC have a wider goal to ensure there is sufficient finance available in the market and will be monitoring how the market as a whole evolves.
	In the short run, DECC has provided an implementation loan of £7 million to enable TGDFC to develop its loans administration function and financing proposition. DECC regularly monitors the company’s delivery against these implementation milestones as we approach 28 January.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by what date he expects to agree a strike price with EDF and Centrica for Hinkley Point C; and by what date he expects to publish (a) the strike price and (b) the associated contract terms.

John Hayes: The Government have entered into dialogue with NNB Generation Company Ltd regarding potential transitional arrangements ahead of the implementation of electricity market reform (EMR) for NNB’s Hinkley Point C project on the basis set out in the Technical Update on electricity market reform published in December 2011. These discussions are ongoing, and it is not possible to say when they may conclude. If agreement is reached on a contract for difference for Hinkley Point C, there will be transparency over the terms offered (including the strike price).

Housing: Insulation

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings he has had with representatives of insulation companies in the last six months.

Gregory Barker: All meetings between external organisations and DECC Ministers are published on a quarterly basis on the DECC website and are available for download at this link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx

Housing: Insulation

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on training solid wall installers.

Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers meet regularly with Ministers in BIS to discuss a range of issues. As has been the case with successive Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 15 October 2012 on behalf of a constituent.

Gregory Barker: The response to this letter of 15 October 2012 to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change was signed by me on 21 November 2012. I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member’s letter.

Natural Resources

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his latest assessment is of the potential resilience of the UK to adverse weather in terms of reserves of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) coal over the winter period.

John Hayes: holding answer 22 November 2012
	The information is as follows:
	Oil
	DECC places obligations on companies supplying petroleum products in the inland market requiring them to hold stocks of crude oil and its products equivalent to a minimum of 67.5 days of annual daily inland consumption using powers under the Energy Act 1976. These are emergency stocks, separate to commercial stocks held by companies, and are available to release to the market in the event of supply disruptions. At the end of August 2012 (the latest data available), the UK held almost 83 days of gasoline stocks, over 75 days of middle distillates (including diesel and aviation fuel) and almost 500 days of fuel oil.
	Gas
	For this winter 2012-13, seasonal demands for gas and electricity are forecast to be comparatively lower, in general, than recent years with prices strongly favouring coal rather than gas for fuelling power generation. For gas, last winter’s experience of supply flexibility through increased use of import capacity and storage is expected to continue. However, there is greater uncertainty over liquefied natural gas (LNG) levels as Japan is expected to continue to draw cargoes to the Pacific basin over the medium to short term. For electricity, margins are similar to last year and are historically high, though it is possible that for a one in 20 demand scenario high interconnector exports may lead to low reserve levels.
	Coal
	We anticipate no difficulties with coal supplies over the winter period.

Nuclear Power

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with EU state aid officials concerning (a) a nuclear power strike price, (b) the auctioning of nuclear power contracts for difference and (c) the proportion of electricity supplied that is underwritten by contracts for difference.

John Hayes: State aid issues are a bilateral matter between the Government and the European Commission. The Government are in discussion with the Commission as to the application of the state aid rules in this context and detailed accounts of the content of discussions are not normally published. In common with other similar situations, such discussions cover whether or not state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is approvable under the treaty.
	If the Government make a formal notification of their arrangements, we expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent with the proper exercise of its responsibilities. Such Commission decisions are published and include an explanation of how the decision has been reached.

Offshore Industry

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Civil Aviation Authority's decision to restrict use of Super Puma EC225 helicopters in servicing the oil and gas sector in the North Sea, what steps he is taking to promote the safety of the offshore oil and gas workforce during transfers of staff to and from rigs and installations.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for assessing and regulating safety on offshore installations in the UK. Following the restriction in use of Super Puma helicopters in October, HSE wrote to offshore industries, trade unions, and shipping and aviation stakeholders, to reiterate the availability of existing safety guidance in HSE Offshore Safety Information Sheet 1/2007 about safe procedures for the transfer of personnel by carriers, and emergency evacuation arrangements in times of limited helicopter availability. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) also wrote to industry to advise on the safe carriage of offshore workers on vessels and subsequent transfer to and from an installation. MCA has given short-term authority for certain ships to be utilised as alternative means for transferring and transporting offshore personnel.
	The main offshore industry trade association, Oil and Gas UK, has an established Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG). This group includes helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots' union BALPA and CAA. Since October, HSE has attended two HSSG meetings to advise on the consequences for safe transport and evacuation arrangements. HSE has also met with the Step Change Marine Safety Workgroup to discuss marine transfer of workers.
	HSE works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the MCA to regulate and promote all aspects of safe transport of staff to and from offshore installations. HSE continues to monitor the situation and will act both within its regulatory jurisdiction and in cooperation with its co-regulators offshore to best retain safe practice while flight restrictions remain in place.

Temperature

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish a table showing the average global temperature for each year since 1997.

Gregory Barker: The Met Office already makes such information publicly available. A table of global average near-surface annual temperatures, including each year since 1997, is available on the Met Office website at:
	http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/monitoring/climate/surface-temperature

Wind Power: Noise

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to review noise regulations for wind turbines.

Gregory Barker: We have no plans to review noise regulations for wind turbines.
	DECC commissioned acoustic experts at Hayes McKenzie to carry out a research project to analyse matters arising in the consideration of noise impacts when determining planning applications in England. The 2011 study found that the current noise guidance, known as ‘ETSU-R-97’, remained fit for purpose. However, it recommended that further guidance was needed to confirm, and where necessary, clarify, the way it should be implemented in practice.
	In response, DECC has asked the Institute of Acoustics to develop this good practice guidance. We expect this to be published in spring 2013.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Roads

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of animals involved in road traffic accidents per annum.

Stephen Hammond: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	The Department for Transport only collects information relating to personal injury road accidents, and therefore does not include damage-only accidents in its statistics.
	Information regarding the number of animals involved in personal injury accidents is not held by the Department. However, the Department holds information relating to the number of accidents involving an animal (except a ridden horse) in the carriageway.
	The total number of personal injury road accidents in Great Britain which involved an animal in the carriageway was 851 in 2011. Of these accidents, eight were fatal, 126 were serious, and 717 were of the slight severity.

Fisheries: Morocco

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek for any extension of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement to be limited to the waters off Morocco.

Richard Benyon: The UK will not be calling for an extension of the fisheries partnership Agreement to be limited to the waters off Morocco. However, in negotiations we are insisting that Morocco will need to demonstrate that money received for any fishing opportunities offered to the EU in Western Sahara is used for the benefit of the local population.

Hares

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to prevent a decline in the population of brown hares in the UK;
	(2)  if he will implement measures to protect brown hares in England and Wales.

Richard Benyon: Our current view is that habitat changes due to modern farming practices are the main cause of their population decline. This is being addressed through habitat/landscape restoration and agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship.

Marine Animals: Turks and Caicos Islands

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the proposed dolphinarium in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	This is a matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. There are already dolphinariums in three other territories—Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.

Marine Animals: Turks and Caicos Islands

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the amendment of the law of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to permit performing marine mammals to be held in captivity in the TCI for his policy on marine conservation in the UK Overseas Territories.

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	No assessment has been made as this is a matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. There are already dolphinariums in three other territories—Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.

Nappies: Waste Disposal

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to assess the composition of household waste, including disposable nappies; if he will estimate the costs to local authorities of disposing of nappies; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: A DEFRA-commissioned report on the national compositional estimates for local authority collected waste in England in 2010-11 is currently being finalised. This will include a subcategory for disposable nappies. The last published report on national municipal waste compositional estimates was for 2006/07 (project WR1002). This is available on DEFRA's Science and Research Projects web pages and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Nappies are a small fraction of collected residual waste, and generally not collected separately, so it is not possible to produce specific costs. However, by using information from the Environment Agency's 2006 report, ‘An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies’ (available on the Environment Agency's website) and population estimates for England from the Office for National Statistics, we estimate that the total cost of disposing of disposable nappies in England was approximately £77 million in 2011. This estimate includes costs of £23 million for landfill or incineration gate fees, £25 million for landfill tax and £29 million for collection. Landfill tax is paid by local authorities to central Government.

Primates: Animal Welfare

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his review of the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Non-Human Primates, what evidence will be used to determine the efficacy of the code, how that evidence will be collected, by whom and when; and when and how the results of the review will be made public.

Richard Benyon: The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Non-Human Primates will be reviewed after it has been in force for five years in 2015. The final format for the review has not been decided. However, as part of the review we will be asking key stakeholders from affected sectors (such as keepers, industry, animal welfare organisations, local authorities and veterinary groups) to submit evidence on the effectiveness of the code.

Staff

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months.

Richard Benyon: The amount paid by core DEFRA in the last 12 months to organisations providing headhunting and talent management services is £47,295. To provide a monthly analysis or costs relating to temporary workers would incur disproportionate cost.
	In the same period, core DEFRA has spent £3,000 on outplacement services for displaced staff or staff under threat of redundancy.
	The amount spent by core DEFRA on staff training is not centrally held and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Water Abstraction

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abstraction licences were refused in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date by the general reason for that refusal.

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the number of licences refused in each year and the general reason for refusal:
	
		
			  Reason for refusal Number refused 
			 2010 Applied for wrong licence 1 
			  No rights of access 3 
			  Two applications received on one weir, alternative scheme licensed 3 
			  No reasonable justification of need for water 1 
			  Adverse environmental impact to protected sites and impacts to other existing licence holders 1 
			  Catchment over abstracted therefore licence refused as would cause adverse environmental impact 2 
			  Total for 2010 11 
			    
			 2011 No reasonable justification of need for water 1 
			  Catchment over abstracted therefore licence refused as would cause adverse environmental impact 1 
			  Application for amount of water in excess of that permitted by the Hydro-Electric Power Good Practice Guidelines without justification 2 
			  Licence not required, activity permitted by an existing licence 1 
			  To licence would have caused adverse environmental impact 1 
			  Adverse environmental impact and impacts to other existing licence holders 1 
			  Total for 2011 7 
			    
			 2012 No rights of access 6 
			  Adverse environmental impact to protected sites 3 
			  Total for 2012 9 
			    
			  Total for period 2010-12 27 
		
	
	Of the 27 listed above, six have been appealed or been subject to judicial review, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Outcome Total 
			 2010 Appealed, unsuccessful 1 
			  Appealed, re-determined and issued 1 
			  Judicially Reviewed, issued licence quashed and both applications being re-determined 2 
			  Total for 2010 4 
			    
			 2011 Appealed, re-negotiated and issued 2 
			  Total for 2010-11 6

Whales: Conservation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage an end to commercial whaling.

Richard Benyon: I attended this year's International Whaling Commission meeting in July to demonstrate our commitment to the conservation and welfare of whales and our support for the moratorium on commercial whaling. I also wrote to my counterparts in the Republic of Korea following their announcement at the meeting of their intention to commence so called 'scientific' whaling, urging them to reconsider their plans. The Government will continue to make our opposition to whaling known at every appropriate opportunity.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff in her Department work full-time on (a) libraries, (b) the arts and (c) the creative industries.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport deploys staff flexibly across a range of projects and priorities. Currently, four full-time and one part-time members of staff are deployed to work on public libraries policy; seven full-time members of staff are deployed on projects that include arts and arts related policy, including cross-cutting projects across the cultural sector; and eight fall time members of staff are deployed on projects that include work on the creative industries. Press officers and legal advisors also support the work across these areas.

Civil Partnerships

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what legal rights the Government proposes to accord to same sex couples in its proposed legislation on same sex marriage in addition to those accorded in civil partnership legislation.

Helen Grant: Civil partnerships gave same-sex couples the equivalent rights, responsibilities and freedoms to those afforded to couples in a marriage. However, there remains some differences between civil partnerships and marriage, for example how they are formed, reasons for which they can be ended, and pension rights.
	The consultation on equal civil marriage sought views on these differences. The Government's response to the consultation will be published by the end of the year.

Football Association

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the planned timetable for the implementation of constitutional reforms to the Football Association.

Hugh Robertson: The football authorities have already begun work to reform their governance structure including partial reform of the FA Board. We expect further reforms, including the introduction of a new licensing system for clubs and rationalisation of the relationship between the FA Board and its council, by summer 2013.

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) her Department and (b) the bodies for which she is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

Hugh Robertson: Lottery funded programmes and schemes are developed by the lottery distributors independently of Government and the Department. A list of lottery funded programmes that award grants to Scotland can be found at:
	http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding-finder
	The Department's arm's length bodies publish details of their grant programmes, including which organisations are eligible to apply, on their websites. A list of these bodies and links to their websites can be found at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_us/our_sponsored_bodies/963.aspx
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides grant awards to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and Memorials Grant Scheme. Both schemes operate for the whole of the United Kingdom and consequently do make grant payments to Scottish organisations.

Nuisance Calls

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the largest fine imposed on a company for making nuisance calls is;
	(2)  how many companies have been prosecuted for making nuisance calls in each of the last 30 years; and what sector each such company belonged to.

Jeremy Wright: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	A breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (which regulate cold calling either to telephone or by text message) is not a criminal offence, hence there have been no prosecutions and consequently no fines issued at criminal courts for making such calls.
	The Information Commissioner has the power to issue enforcement notices requiring companies that cease making them and, since the Regulations came into force on 11 December 2003, the ICO has issued seven enforcement notices for breaches of the regulations relating to nuisance recorded messages.

Playing Fields

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many organisations have applied to the Protecting Playing Fields Fund since it was established; how many such applications have been successful; how much money has been allocated from the fund since it was established; and for how many pitches or playing fields such funds have been used.

Hugh Robertson: Since it was established, in Rounds 1, 2 and 3, 237 organisations have applied to the Protecting Playing Fields Fund. Of these applications, 163 were successful. Around £8.2 million has been allocated from the fund over these rounds, benefiting 504 playing fields and pitches.

Sports: Clubs

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the doorstep club initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: To deliver the Door Step Club project, Sport England is working with StreetGames to create sustainable clubs for young people in disadvantaged areas. These are informal clubs run for young people, by young people, and have a transformative impact on the individuals themselves as well as the communities which they come from. The £0.5 million pilot is under way to deliver 46 Door Step Clubs across the country. This will be scaled up to £20 million delivery over the next four years to 2017.

Sports: Schools

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress her Department has made on improving links between community sports clubs and schools.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England, as part of the new Youth and Community Sport Strategy, will invest at least £1 billion of lottery and Exchequer funding over the next four years to help to ensure that people, particularly those aged 14 to 25, are regularly playing sport. Links will be improved between schools and community sports clubs to establish at least 6,000 partnerships between schools and local sports clubs by 2017. Funding of £8.13 million has now been approved for County Sport Partnership Club Link Makers, and Sport England expect them to be in post by April 2013.
	Also, £48.5 million will be invested in the creation of hundreds of new 'satellite clubs', which aim to bridge the gap between school and community sports clubs. To date, 30 national governing bodies have indicated that they will deliver satellite clubs as part of their 2013 to 2017 Whole Sport Plans (subject to confirmation of their final Whole Sport Plan settlement which is expected in December 2012), and Sport England have begun project work which will deliver 204 satellite clubs across 17 sports.

Tourism: Yorkshire and the Humber

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote tourism in Yorkshire; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: holding answer 22 November 2012
	Yorkshire is an important part of our tourism offer. Although VisitEngland, our national tourism board, does not promote at the local level, it does engage in national promotions and public relations work which benefits such locations as Yorkshire. In fact, North Yorkshire is the third highest value county destination in terms of visitor spend outside London. The county more widely incorporates many iconic landmarks and attractive landscape which features frequently in VisitEngland marketing materials. VisitEngland is currently developing four thematic marketing campaigns based on City, Coast, Countryside and Heritage, and Yorkshire embodies all four.
	VisitEngland staff meet regularly with ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’ (the Destination Management Organisation for the historic county of Yorkshire) and they play a full part in many of VisitEngland's activities. Most recently VisitEngland has worked with Welcome to Yorkshire on the successful GREAT 2012 TV campaign and on this summer's programme of visits for non-accredited media during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	VisitBritain is investing in a major international promotional campaign in key overseas markets; over the next four years, this is expected to deliver 4.6 million extra visitors, £2.27 billion in extra visitor spend and over 50,000 job opportunities across the whole nation. This campaign will take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded by the unique events of 2012 to maximise the industry's potential and ensure that we create a sustained legacy for tourism. Destinations all over the UK, including those in Yorkshire, stand to benefit from these initiatives.

JUSTICE

Tribunals

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the savings made to the Tribunal Service following implementation of recommendations made by the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council.

Helen Grant: The MOJ have not made any assessment of savings arising from recommendations of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (AJTC).
	The creation of the Tribunals Service in 2007 led to substantial savings, as did the unification of the Tribunals Service with Her Majesty's Courts Service. These savings were as a result of reform, rationalisation and service improvement on which the AJTC and others provided advice.

Tribunals

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to the consequences for devolved tribunals in (a) Scotland and (b) Wales of the proposed abolition of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council.

Helen Grant: The Government recognise that the progress that has been made in UK-wide tribunals since 2007 has not been fully replicated in those tribunals that deal with devolved matters. The Ministry of Justice is working with officials in the Scottish and Welsh Administrations to ensure that their programmes of tribunal reform continue to receive appropriate support following the proposed abolition of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council. Once agreed, these proposed arrangements will be detailed when the Order is laid in Parliament.

Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation is subject to a deferred prosecution agreement.

Damian Green: No. Proposals to bring Deferred Prosecution Agreements into effect in England and Wales are currently before Parliament within the Crime and Courts Bill. Prosecutors are not yet able to make use of the provisions and no Deferred Prosecution Agreements have been or are in the process of being made.

Hillsborough Stadium

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to fund potential new inquests into the deaths of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster.

Helen Grant: The Attorney-General is yet to apply to the High Court to have the inquests into the deaths of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster quashed and for new inquests to be ordered. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment at present, as we would not wish to risk pre-judging the Court's decision.

Human Rights: Research

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research on human rights has been commissioned by his Department and its predecessors since April 2006; on what date each such piece of research was commissioned; who commissioned the research; and how much funding was granted in each case.

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice does not hold the requested information centrally. However the following table, prepared by my officials, summarises the information currently available from the Department's records.
	
		
			 Research (excluding human rights guides, consultation documents (e.g. Green Papers), and periodic human rights reports to the United Nations and the Council of Europe) Commissioning authority Start date Date of publication/completion Cost 
			 Review of the implementation of the Human Rights Act Previous Government May 2006—approximately July 2006 Produced within Government 
			 Human rights tracker surveys Previous Government 2006— approximately 2009 No separate figures 
			 Human rights in education project Previous Government 2007— approximately 2008 No separate figures 
			 Public protection, proportionality, and the search for balance Previous Government 2007 September 2007 £24,514 
			 Human rights insight project Previous Government 2007 January 2008 No separate figures 
			 The optional protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): the experience of the United Kingdom Previous Government May 2007 December 2008 No separate figures 
			 Institutional Scope of National Human Rights Protections: A comparative study in relation to ‘public authorities’ Previous Government August 2008 January 2009 £59,850 
			 The relationship between rights and responsibilities Previous Government August 2009 December 2009 No separate figures 
			 People and power: shaping democracy, rights and responsibilities Previous Government October 2009 March 2010 £842,111.35 (cost for 8 deliberative engagement events across the UK)

Legal Aid

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of appeals cases using legal aid were successful in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of the total legal aid budget was spent on appeals cases in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not hold information on the success of appeals in criminal matters funded by legal aid, neither does the LSC hold information on the total cost of all appeals in civil matters as it is not possible to disaggregate expenditure specific to the appeal in all funded cases. For example, where funding under a legal aid certificate covers both the initial proceeding and appeal.
	However, the LSC is currently identifying the legal aid cost of criminal appeals; the cost of civil appeals in those cases where the funding can be specifically identified; and, the success outcome of the civil appeals.
	I will write to my hon. Friend once the LSC have provided the information.

Legal Aid

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases were eligible for legal aid in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The number of acts of assistance in each year since 2007-08 to 2011-12 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Acts of assistance (thousand) 
			 2007-08 2,502 
			 2008-09 2,860 
			 2009-10 2,965 
			 2010-11 2,715 
			 2011-12 2,477 
		
	
	An act of assistance includes legal aid granted in civil and criminal cases that may proceed to court as well as legal advice and assistance, such as police station advice in criminal matters and initial advice in civil matters. One legal aid applicant may receive more than one act of assistance in a particular matter.
	It is possible that a number of cases privately funded would have been eligible for legal aid had the litigant or defendant applied for legal aid. However, it is not possible to determine the number.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date he plans to bring into force Section 73 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Helen Grant: Section 73 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 will come into force on 3 December 2012.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of the ban on referral fees in personal injury cases introduced under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on the number of whiplash claims made.

Helen Grant: The provisions in part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 to prohibit the payment and receipt of referral fees in personal injury cases, will come into force in April 2013. The Government will evaluate the impact of part 2 of the Act—including the effect of the ban on referral fees—within three to five years of the implementation date.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of costs recovered through personal injury claims were made in respect of whiplash in the last three years for which figures are available.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice does not hold aggregate data on the amount recovered in costs from personal injury claims. Data from the Department of Work and Pensions Compensation Recovery Unit suggests that in 2011-12 just over 1 million personal injury claims were recorded; of which approximately 540,000 claims were described as whiplash related. Different claim types may attract different levels of costs and it is not possible to comment on the costs recovered in respect of these claims.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for statutory appeals in respect of planning and related cases were made in each of the last 10 years; and how many subsequent appeals determined by the court were (a) allowed, (b) dismissed and (c) withdrawn.

Jeremy Wright: The following data provide figures for Statutory Appeals made under section 289 of the Town and County Planning Act of 1990 relating to enforcement notice appeals and appeals under section 288 of the same act relating to challenges to a planning decision.
	
		
			 Administrative Court Office—Judicial Review Town and Country Planning 
			 Applications received in the Administrative Court Office 
			 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Section 288 200 171 139 180 142 154 135 124 188 138 153 102 97 121 
			 Section 289 66 48 53 37 39 44 37 34 50 63 57 67 59 65 
			 Grand total 266 219 192 217 181 198 172 158 238 201 210 169 156 186 
		
	
	
		
			 Applications granted permission to proceed to a full hearing 
			 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Section 289 30 35 34 22 22 19 15 16 16 15 25 22 12 26 
		
	
	
		
			 Substantive hearings allowed 
			 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Section 288 62 53 71 38 33 26 22 11 7 11 18 21 9 9 
			 Section 289 17 16 21 13 5 7 6 4 5 4 4 7 5 3 
			 Grand total 79 69 92 51 38 33 28 15 12 15 22 28 14 12 
		
	
	
		
			 Cases determined by court (including cases determined by consent without a substantive hearing) 
			 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Section 288 134 154 157 98 129 120 108 68 78 91 107 137 65 50 
			 Section 289 39 52 49 41 32 37 37 17 36 32 51 51 48 55 
			 Grand total 173 206 206 139 161 157 145 85 114 123 158 188 113 105

Planning Permission: Judicial Review

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for judicial review related to planning or infrastructure proposals have been made in each year since 1998; and how many of those applications were (a) allowed to proceed to a hearing and (b) granted.

Jeremy Wright: The following tables provide the number of judicial reviews received relating to planning made each year from 1998 to 2011 and indicates the number of those granted permission to proceed to a full hearing, the number of substantive cases that were allowed at hearing and the total number allowed including those by consent without a hearing.
	
		
			 Applications received in the Administrative Court Office 
			 Type Topic  Number 
			 Judicial review civil Town and Country Planning 1998 112 
			   1999 116 
			   2000 121 
			   2001 142 
			   2002 119 
			   2003 122 
			   2004 119 
			   2005 140 
			   2006 142 
			   2007 151 
			   2008 184 
			   2009 165 
			   2010 148 
			   2011 191 
		
	
	
		
			 Applications granted permission to proceed to a full hearing (at initial permission and renewal stage) 
			 Type Topic  Number 
			 Judicial review civil Town and Country Planning 1998 51 
			   1999 56 
			   2000 68 
			   2001 63 
			   2002 47 
			   2003 54 
			   2004 49 
			   2005 44 
			   2006 50 
			   2007 51 
			   2008 67 
			   2009 64 
			   2010 46 
			   2011 61 
		
	
	
		
			 Substantive hearings allowed 
			 Type Topic  Number 
			 Judicial review civil Town and Country Planning 1998 10 
			   1999 19 
			   2000 29 
			   2001 17 
			   2002 12 
			   2003 11 
			   2004 10 
			   2005 11 
			   2006 7 
			   2007 17 
			   2008 14 
			   2009 15 
			   2010 17 
			   2011 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Cases determined by Court (including cases determined by consent without a substantive hearing) 
			 Type Topic  Number 
			 Judicial review civil Town and Country Planning 1998 64 
			   1999 69 
			   2000 98 
			   2001 71 
			   2002 72 
			   2003 67 
			   2004 66 
			   2005 76 
			   2006 44 
			   2007 77 
			   2008 111 
			   2009 116 
			   2010 87 
			   2011 122

Prisoners: Credit Unions

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which prisons encourage prisoners to join credit unions;
	(2)  how many prisoners were members of credit unions in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of prisons that specifically encourage prisoners to engage with credit unions, and the numbers of prisoners who become members of credit unions, is not routinely collected.
	We do see credit unions as a key part of the solution in addressing the lack of bank accounts for prisoners where mainstream accounts cannot be accessed. Through the work that we are doing with prisons and the support and provision provided by third sector partners, we are keen to continue to raise awareness and encourage prisoners to engage with credit unions.
	The National Offender Management Service commissioned research to find the best way to enable offenders to access community financial services through the development of partnerships between credit unions and justice agencies in England and Wales. A policy report will be published in the new year, and a project is underway to enable people who are serving, or have served, a prison or community sentence, and their families, to access community financial services through the development of such partnerships.

Prisons: Bank Services

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners had a bank account on (a) admission to and (b) release from prison in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of offenders entering or leaving a prison who have a bank account is not routinely collected. A survey by the Legal Service Research Centre in 2007 reported that 40% of people in prison surveyed had no current account or other financial products. An evaluation by Liverpool John Moores university in 2008 found that 69% of prisoners at one prison had no bank account.
	We recognise that access to bank accounts and other basic financial services can positively contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners and their resettlement into society, and we are working closely across departments and with banks to increase provision.

Prisons: Procurement

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the reasoning behind each decision taken as part of the prison marketisation process.

Jeremy Wright: Bids for all six lots within Prison Competitions Phase 2 were evaluated to determine the most economically advantageous having regard to both price and non-price criteria. The evaluation methodology was published to all bidders before submission of their bids and includes the detailed criteria. I have placed a copy of the evaluation booklet setting out this process in the Library of the House.
	When considering the outcome for Northumberland and the three South Yorkshire prisons, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), considered the best bids to represent a compelling package of reforms for delivering cost reduction, improvements to regimes and a working prisons model in these prisons, and so he decided that the competition should progress to the next stage.
	For Durham, Onley, and Coldingley, he did not consider the best bids sufficiently compelling when compared to the approach of delivering the new competition benchmark in remaining public sector prisons and competing non-core services, so he decided not to take the competition into the next stage.
	In respect of HMP Wolds, the benefits of the competition did not represent best value to the public when compared to the option of clustering the Wolds with the nearby prison Everthorpe. He therefore decided not to progress with the competition for this prison.

Probation

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many cases were managed by each probation trust in England and Wales in each year from 2008 to 2012 to date;
	(2)  how many cases were managed by each probation trust in England and Wales in each month from January 2011 to September 2012.

Jeremy Wright: The total caseload of offenders supervised by each probation trust in England and Wales from 2008 to 2011 (as at 31 December) and the latest available data for 2012 (as at 30 June) are provided in Table A.
	Offenders starting probation service supervision by month and probation trust in England and Wales from January 2011 to June 2012 are provided in Table B. Updated data covering September 2012 will be available in January 2013.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Table A: Total number of offenders supervised by probation trust at 31 December for 2008 to 2011 and at 30 June for 2012 
			 Number 
			 Trust 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Avon and Somerset 5,188 5,558 5,748 5,853 5,825 
			 Bedfordshire 2,239 2,343 2,407 2,453 2,449 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,146 3,016 3,069 2,914 2,897 
			 Cheshire 3,887 3,825 3,652 3,443 3,382 
			 Durham Tees Valley 6,879 6,882 6,952 6,722 6,522 
			 Cumbria 2,147 2,017 1,912 1,884 1,871 
			 Derbyshire 4,017 4,010 3,831 3,926 3,845 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,864 4,016 4,005 4,054 3,979 
		
	
	
		
			 Dorset 2,065 2,002 1,959 1,809 1,780 
			 Essex 6,518 6,926 6,407 5,958 5,723 
			 Gloucestershire 2,007 1,869 1,771 1,741 1,679 
			 Hampshire 6,755 6,420 6,345 6,083 5,873 
			 West Mercia 3,819 3,921 3,662 3,610 3,556 
			 Hertfordshire 3,404 3,487 3,666 3,640 3,284 
			 Humberside 4,408 4,256 4,307 4,432 4,349 
			 Kent 6,026 5,972 6,092 6,420 6,324 
			 Lancashire 7,471 7,348 7,515 7,524 7,570 
			 Leicestershire 3,722 3,700 3,738 3,823 3,851 
			 Lincolnshire 2,034 2,114 2,176 2,156 2,135 
			 Greater Manchester 15,597 15,672 16,307 16,066 15,566 
			 Merseyside 9,055 8,408 8,312 7,949 7,849 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 4,887 4,953 4,643 4,505 4,317 
			 Northamptonshire 2,684 2,753 2,935 3,026 2,959 
			 Northumbria 7,243 7,222 6,980 6,882 6,714 
			 Nottinghamshire 5,372 5,468 5,443 5,331 5,335 
			 Thames Valley 6,904 6,526 6,694 6,516 6,379 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 22,290 21,652 20,700 20,483 20,457 
			 Surrey and Sussex 7,606 7,594 7,622 7,033 6,793 
			 Warwickshire 1,735 1,800 1,750 1,603 1,625 
			 Wiltshire 1,715 1,669 1,637 1,502 1,563 
			 North Yorkshire 2,241 2,340 2,241 2,243 2,170 
			 South Yorkshire 6,720 6,752 6,744 6,635 6,350 
			 West Yorkshire 11,893 12,440 12,477 11,682 11,478 
			 Wales 14,335 14,532 14,529 14,486 14,313 
			 London 43,819 42,051 40,745 40,141 39,974 
			       
			 England and Wales 243,692 241,514 238,973 234,528 230,736 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Total number of offenders starting probation supervision by trust and month, from January 2011 to June 2012 
			 Number 
			  2011 
			 Trust Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept 
			 Avon and Somerset 421 412 473 364 437 436 444 421 419 
			 Bedfordshire 164 139 194 151 166 165 143 168 185 
			 Cambridgeshire 216 252 234 203 227 183 250 219 252 
			 Cheshire 347 327 312 244 260 277 248 266 230 
			 Durham Tees Valley 579 564 534 453 478 488 473 492 456 
			 Cumbria 162 166 175 147 178 182 168 166 146 
			 Derbyshire 343 350 348 290 285 299 303 312 327 
			 Devon and Cornwall 323 345 326 306 346 314 314 324 291 
			 Dorset 141 151 174 106 139 123 149 125 121 
			 Essex 529 543 585 441 453 532 469 453 433 
			 Gloucestershire 160 157 138 120 124 143 132 127 126 
			 Hampshire 574 568 574 494 528 519 472 460 527 
			 West Mercia 316 331 320 251 271 275 247 246 231 
			 Hertfordshire 278 284 280 234 210 274 259 246 241 
			 Humberside 349 371 424 294 319 356 378 280 313 
			 Kent 411 433 450 359 434 473 487 462 523 
			 Lancashire 668 591 669 540 557 559 488 482 548 
			 Leicestershire 356 313 332 261 279 317 281 234 316 
			 Lincolnshire 213 169 178 145 131 158 162 166 144 
			 Greater Manchester 1,284 1,245 1,326 1,090 1,120 1,144 1,137 984 1,100 
			 Merseyside 556 540 615 462 483 471 409 471 493 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 407 361 405 301 317 360 370 344 340 
			 Northamptonshire 231 239 227 203 193 209 197 160 209 
			 Northumbria 608 625 650 474 533 499 471 421 456 
			 Nottinghamshire 518 431 466 425 442 414 391 368 399 
			 Thames Valley 434 450 501 414 456 493 452 484 455 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 1,586 1,505 1,646 1,281 1,327 1,466 1,411 1,344 1,375 
			 Surrey and Sussex 566 596 636 479 517 598 501 526 523 
		
	
	
		
			 Warwickshire 119 124 118 114 134 112 119 101 98 
			 Wiltshire 134 151 149 109 115 104 97 102 116 
			 North Yorkshire 195 221 220 208 174 198 195 175 184 
			 South Yorkshire 553 606 620 433 476 527 477 439 485 
			 West Yorkshire 943 1,020 979 729 791 855 788 744 860 
			 Wales 1,219 1,107 1,331 967 1,062 1,124 1,139 1,067 997 
			 London 2,617 2,780 2,914 2,316 2,438 2,514 2,530 2,423 2,551 
			           
			 England and Wales 18,520 18,467 19,523 15,408 16,400 17,161 16,551 15,802 16,470 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			  2011 2012 
			 Trust Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 
			 Avon and Somerset 432 414 354 433 388 390 303 324 291 
			 Bedfordshire 163 174 128 163 133 153 110 134 124 
			 Cambridgeshire 242 219 159 216 193 225 140 198 141 
			 Cheshire 209 231 211 249 259 230 213 213 193 
			 Durham Tees Valley 414 436 317 384 377 370 327 340 284 
			 Cumbria 164 149 143 150 130 149 134 127 107 
			 Derbyshire 277 335 272 312 279 249 233 275 222 
			 Devon and Cornwall 280 279 240 272 272 280 240 254 216 
			 Dorset 94 137 103 101 119 130 112 99 88 
			 Essex 391 379 331 362 414 370 301 312 288 
			 Gloucestershire 100 102 91 97 101 89 92 109 96 
			 Hampshire 414 427 425 442 436 430 318 413 291 
			 West Mercia 236 246 199 246 200 219 212 202 177 
			 Hertfordshire 215 227 175 195 197 186 215 227 167 
			 Humberside 344 328 296 284 269 290 276 247 238 
			 Kent 445 430 317 350 393 388 359 357 291 
			 Lancashire 486 524 410 482 465 481 352 417 413 
			 Leicestershire 271 251 263 258 252 244 206 279 214 
			 Lincolnshire 144 120 129 142 125 144 121 134 120 
			 Greater Manchester 944 938 796 934 923 919 821 837 740 
			 Merseyside 419 443 377 411 442 416 392 395 329 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 333 306 257 316 279 277 260 262 235 
			 Northamptonshire 183 194 150 181 150 169 146 174 139 
			 Northumbria 491 398 347 382 399 444 333 345 299 
			 Nottinghamshire 360 359 342 358 317 338 313 312 262 
			 Thames Valley 436 407 323 428 362 395 325 393 325 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 1,363 1,275 1,070 1,263 1,296 1,247 1,061 1,152 915 
			 Surrey and Sussex 497 464 366 498 438 469 395 436 390 
			 Warwickshire 102 92 85 92 93 94 83 120 76 
			 Wiltshire 101 101 83 96 102 107 78 107 80 
			 North Yorkshire 174 194 145 183 129 164 128 142 112 
			 South Yorkshire 396 432 345 416 444 383 323 377 326 
			 West Yorkshire 716 745 599 762 657 670 591 590 448 
			 Wales 946 1,047 875 929 881 910 811 854 690 
			 London 2,392 2,588 2,194 2,295 2,241 2,376 1,808 2,126 1,832 
			           
			 England and Wales 15,174 15,391 12,917 14,682 14,155 14,395 12,132 13,283 11,159

Prostitution: Convictions

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have a conviction for soliciting which appears on their criminal record by gender.

Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of people with a conviction appearing on their criminal record for soliciting(1) on the police national computer (PNC)(2) by gender 12 months ending March 2002 to 12 months ending March 2012—England and Wales 
			 Number of people with a conviction for soliciting(3) 
			  Female Male Total(4) 
			 2002 882 1,183 2,090 
			 2003 656 1,097 1,761 
			 2004 484 1,004 1,496 
			 2005 339 948 1,294 
		
	
	
		
			 2006 242 891 1,142 
			 2007 201 726 929 
			 2008 199 626 629 
			 2009 200 477 679 
			 2010 179 531 711 
			 2011 166 377 544 
			 2012 131 133 264 
			 (1) The crimes being defined as soliciting are: Causing or inciting prostitution for gain—Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.52 Controlling a prostitute for gain—Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.53 Keeping a brothel used for prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.33A as added by Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.55 Male of or over the age of 21 procuring or attempting to procure or being a party to the commission by a male under 18 of an act of gross indecency with another male. Male of or over the age of 21 procuring or attempting to procure or being party to the commission of an act of gross indecency between men (one a male under 16) Male procuring or attempting to procure or being party to the commission by a male of gross indecency with another male other than as in 24/12 Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 33 as amended by Sexual Offences Act 1967 Sec. 6. Keeping a brothel for homosexual practices. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 34. Letting premises for use as a brothel. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 35. Tenant permitting premises to be used as a brothel. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 36. Tenant permitting premises to be used for prostitution. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 2, 3, 4. Procuring female for immoral purposes or using drugs to obtain or facilitate sexual intercourse. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 24. Detention of female in brothel or other premises. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 25, 26. Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 30. Man living on earnings of prostitution or exercising control over prostitute. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 32. Man soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes. Sexual Offences Act 1956 Sec. 33. Keeping a brothel. Sexual Offences Act 1967 Sec. 4 (1) Man procuring an act of buggery between two other men. Sexual Offences Act 1967 Sec. 5 (1) Man or woman living wholly or in part on the earnings of male prostitution. Sexual Offences Act 1985 Sec. 1 Kerb-crawling. Sexual Offences Act 1985 Sec. 2 Persistent soliciting of women for the purpose of prostitution. Solicit another for the purpose of obtaining their sexual services as a prostitute in a street/public place Street Offences Act 1959 Sec.1 Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution. (2) The PNC only became operational in 2000 and we only have reliable data form this time period. The dates used above are in line with the most recently published data by the MOJ. (3) If an offender has committed multiple offences over this period only their first conviction is included in the table. (4) The total includes some offenders where the gender is unknown. Source: Police National Computer, Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	This is a further breakdown of Table 7c from the offending histories annex tables for the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to March 2012 publication on the MOJ website. The subcategory, of Soliciting includes crimes within the columns for sexual offences and summary offences. This publication can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-statistics
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the proportion of appeals against his Department's decisions on (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) attendance allowance, (d) carer's allowance, (e) housing benefit, (f) income support and (g) jobseekers' allowance upheld in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012 to date.

Helen Grant: Appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions on an individual's entitlement to social security and child support are heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) administered by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
	The following table shows the proportion of appeals regarding (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit(1), (c) attendance allowance, (d) carers allowance, (e) housing benefit, (f) income support and (g) jobseeker’s allowance which were found in favour of the appellant in the financial years (i) 2010/11, (ii) 2011/12 and (iii) from 1 April to 30 June 2012 (the latest date for which information is available).
	
		
			 Percentage of appeals found in favour of the appellant 
			  2010-11 2011-12 April-June 2012 
			 Disability living allowance 38 40 42 
			 Incapacity benefit 50 51 44 
			 Attendance allowance 24 26 28 
			 Carers allowance 11 13 14 
			 Housing benefit 23 22 20 
			 Income support 28 26 27 
			 Jobseekers allowance 13 15 15 
			 Employment and support allowance(1) 37 39 42 
			 (1) Figures on employment and support allowance have been included because incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance on 27 October 2008 for new claimants. Note: The above data is taken from management information.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what organisations have (a) made representations to and (b) held meetings with his Department on air passenger duty since May 2010.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and receive representations from a wide variety of authorities as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions. However, the Government undertook an extensive consultation on air passenger duty last year. Around 500 stakeholders responded, including most airlines and airports, representative bodies, local councils, and Lords and MPs. A list of those who responded to the consultation is available within the Government's response, found online here:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.htm

Airports

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to introduce a congestion tax on the busiest airports;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the recent HM Revenue and Customs report on modelling the effects of price differentials at UK airports;
	(3)  what recent representations he has received in support of an economic review of air passenger duty;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received from the airline industry on the effect of air passenger duty.

Sajid Javid: Changes to the structure of air passenger duty (APD), including varying the charge between airports, were considered as part of last year’s consultation, launched at Budget 2011. The Government’s response stated that we would continue to work with stakeholders to examine the role of the tax system in rebalancing the UK economy across the regions.
	The HMRC report modelling the effects of price differentials at UK airports was published on 29 October 2012. The Government will consider stakeholder views on the research, which provides valuable additional evidence and will be useful in evaluating the case for regional variation of APD.
	Treasury Ministers routinely receive a large number of representations. Our records are not broken down to allow the number about the effect of APD, or specifically requesting an economic review of APD, to be determined.

Airports

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage the growth of regional airports.

Simon Burns: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	On 12 July 2012, the Department for Transport published a draft Aviation Policy Framework setting out the importance of aviation to the UK economy and the Government's proposals on how aviation can grow and deliver for the economy while meeting its noise, climate change and habitat obligations. The Government aim to adopt the final Aviation Policy Framework next spring. As part of the document, we also announced a package of short-term measures to make the best use of existing airport capacity, encourage investment at our airports and improve surface access provision to the benefit of passengers and the wider economy.

Alcoholic Drinks Industry

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of (a) the Campaign for Real Ale, (b) the British Beer and Pub Association and (c) the Scotch Whisky Association.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Bingo Association

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the Bingo Association.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

British Amusement Catering Trades Association

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of BACTA.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Charity Research Support Fund

Robert Buckland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will continue the charity research support fund until the next General Election.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Government recognise the significant contribution made by charitable funders of research. The charity support element of Quality Related research funding, provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), recognises the public benefit arising from research funded by charities. HEFCE has been asked, as part of the science and research allocation for the spending review period 2011-15, to protect support for institutions leveraging funding from external sources, such as the charitable and business sectors. It will be for the HEFCE board to determine the levels of funding to deploy each year on this from within its overall research allocation.

Child Benefit

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the number of higher tax-rate paying households affected by changes to child benefit from January 2013 in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) the north- west, (c) England and (d) the UK.

David Gauke: HMRC has made the following estimates of the number of families affected by the high-income child benefit charge in 2012-13.
	(a) For the St Helens South and Whiston constituency information is not available as the survey data used to estimate the number of families affected are not designed to produce outputs at the constituency level.
	(b) In the north-west around 75,000 families will be affected by the charge.
	(c) In England around 980,000 families will be affected by the charge.
	(d) In the UK around 1.1 million families will be affected by the charge.
	In a period when the Government are having to reduce welfare spending, it is not possible to justify the 840,000 families in the north-west, 5.7 million families in England and 6.9 million families in the UK with incomes below the threshold subsidising the child benefit for the wealthiest 15% of families in society.

Double Taxation

Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of claims for double taxation relief accepted by HM Revenue and Customs which were made under schemes that were later closed down by the application of the provisions of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008.

David Gauke: UK residents are taxable on their worldwide income wherever it arises, including situations where it arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond doubt and in so doing, made clear that a wholly artificial tax avoidance scheme involving a foreign partnership comprised of foreign trustees did not work.
	HMRC is aware that inquiries into fewer than five scheme users who used the scheme for several years had a closure notice issued with no amendment. The closure notices were issued in error and related to only one of the years under inquiry in each case. I am unable to give a more precise figure as it would breach HMRC's duty of confidentiality. HMRC is unaware of any other cases where a scheme-user's claim to double tax relief was investigated and then a closure notice was issued which referred to the scheme and made no amendment.

Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission an independent assessment of all direct and indirect subsidies in the UK energy sector; if he will request the National Audit Office to verify that assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Government have no plans at this time to commission such an assessment.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of (a) FairFuel UK, (b) the RAC, (c) the Road Haulage Association and (d) the Petrol Retailers Association to discuss fuel duty.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Income Tax: Age Allowances

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) average and (b) maximum tax liability will be for those people brought into income tax as a result of changes to the age-related income tax personal allowance from 2013-14.

David Gauke: The Government remain committed to supporting pensioners and have introduced a triple guarantee for the basic state pension ensuring it will increase each year by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. From April 2012, the basic state pension increased by £5.30, the biggest cash increase ever. The Government have also protected other key pensioner benefits.
	The 2012 Budget announced that from 2013-14, age-related allowances will:
	(a) be frozen at their 2012-13 levels until they align with the personal allowance; and
	(b) that they will no longer be available, except to those born on or before 5 April 1948 with the higher age-related allowance available only to those born before 5 April 1938.
	These changes will simplify the personal allowance system and reduce the number of pensioners in self- assessment.
	The “Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates” published alongside Budget 2012 states that, in 2013-14, an estimated 4.41 million individuals will be affected by these changes compared with RPI indexation of age-related allowances and no change to eligibility, though none will see any cash reduction in their personal allowance from April 2013 compared with 2012-13.
	An estimated 230,000 individuals will be brought into tax in 2013-14, with average tax liabilities of £62 and maximum tax liabilities of £323 for individuals aged 65.
	These estimates are based on the 2009-10 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2012 economic and fiscal outlook.

Infrastructure

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress has been made on the priority low- carbon infrastructure projects in the National Infrastructure Plan.

Danny Alexander: The Government are taking an active role in ensuring the infrastructure identified in the National Infrastructure Plan 2011 is delivered efficiently and on time. An update was published alongside Budget 2012:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/infrastructure_delivery_update.pdf
	which outlined progress on priority infrastructure including the resolution of radar interference issues affecting 4 gigawatts of wind energy developments.
	The Treasury will publish a further progress update on the priority infrastructure projects around the time of autumn statement 2012.

National Insurance Contributions: New Businesses

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an updated version of the HM Revenue and Customs publication “Regional Employers National Insurance Contributions Holiday for New Businesses” factsheet.

David Gauke: HMRC has so far received around 20,000 applications for the NICs holiday.
	An updated factsheet, providing a breakdown by constituency and information on the amounts claimed, will be published after the claims for the 2011-12 tax year have been processed.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date his Department will start to file PAYE real-time information in respect of its own employees.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs started submitting PAYE real-time information in April 2012. HM Treasury will start submitting PAYE real-time information by the end of this year.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers use free software provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for PAYE filing; and what support HMRC is offering those employers for submitting PAYE real-time information.

David Gauke: The basic PAYE tools (BPT) for “traditional” PAYE are currently used by about 100,000 employers to submit their employers' annual returns (P35/P14s).
	A new version of the tools has been developed to support the reporting of PAYE real-time information (RTI) and is being used by some employers in the RTI pilot.
	HMRC has published a guide to assist employers in the transition from the traditional basic PAYE tools to the RTI basic PAYE tools on their website.
	In addition to this guidance HMRC is developing a separate BPT user guide. Employers can also contact the Online Services Helpdesk for any technical inquiries about using RTI basic PAYE tools and the Employer Helpline for advice on reporting PAYE in real time.

Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reasons persons with less than £20,000 in annual pension income are not eligible for pension realisation options other than annuitisation;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect of allowing a choice between annuitisation or another pension realisation option to those with less than £20,000 in annual pension income.

Sajid Javid: For many people, annuities are an effective way to use their pension savings to provide a sustained income in retirement. Alternatively, individuals may be able to provide an income for themselves in retirement through a pension drawdown arrangement or a scheme pension.
	Under the flexible drawdown model, individuals are able to draw down unlimited amounts from their pension pot provided that they can demonstrate that they have secured a sufficient pension income of at least £20,000 per annum.
	The minimum income requirement was set at £20,000 of secured lifetime pension income after consideration of all the consultation responses. The Government exercised judgment in setting this level to achieve an appropriate balance between simplicity, flexibility, and financial risks for individuals and the Exchequer.
	Although the Government recognise that not all savers will be able to access flexible drawdown, all savers will benefit more widely from the removal of the effective requirement to annuitise by age 75.

Pensions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the rules on pension income drawdown introduced in April 2011.

Sajid Javid: The Government continually keep all aspects of their policies under review and are committed to maintaining flexibility for those with drawdown arrangements.

Revenue and Customs: Sunderland

Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the feasibility study considered by Ministers in his Department as part of the decision to close the HM Revenue and Customs office at Gilbridge House;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the equality impact assessment conducted as part of the decision to close the HM Revenue and Customs office at Gilbridge House;
	(3)  what representations his Department has received regarding the closure of the HM Revenue and Customs office at Gilbridge House;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the economic effects on the city centre of Sunderland of the closure of the HM Revenue and Customs office at Gilbridge House;
	(5)  what assessment HM Revenue and Customs has made of the ability of surrounding offices to house staff currently working at its office in Gilbridge House when that office is closed.

David Gauke: There are no plans to publish or release the findings of HMRC's feasibility work into the closure of Gilbridge House in the form of either a study or a report. HMRC will be publishing some information from its feasibility findings on the Department's intranet site.
	There are no plans to place a copy of the equality impact assessment conducted to inform the decision to close Gilbridge House in the Library. HMRC does plan to publish the equality impact assessment on its internet site in the near future.
	In the past 12 months the following MPs have all written to lend their support to a PCS Union campaign against the closure of HMRC offices in Sunderland and Washington, some more than once:
	the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris);
	the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson);
	the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr Hepburn);
	the hon. Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns);
	the right hon. Member for South Shields (David Miliband);
	the hon. Member for City of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods);
	the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Phil Wilson);
	the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr Anderson);
	the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson); and
	the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott).
	HMRC has also received letters about the closure from members of Sunderland city council and Sunderland City Centre Traders Association.
	In HMRC's assessment any economic effect on the surrounding area arising from the closure of Gilbridge House is likely to be minimal and temporary, lasting until such time as the building receives a new tenant.
	Before taking the decision to close Gilbridge House in Sunderland HMRC carried out a full assessment which took account of current and future business plans for its north-east estate. This included an analysis of how HMRC will use its office accommodation efficiently to deliver its full operational commitments. HMRC constantly reviews its office requirement as its business activities alter so that it can continue to accommodate the right number of people in the right locations.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Jim Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has had discussions with the Royal Bank of Scotland on the proportion of RBS reviews of sales of interest rate hedging products which are not completed within the eight-week statutory period;
	(2)  whether he has had discussions with the Royal Bank of Scotland on the statutory obligation to name the reviewer in cases of review into the selling of interest rate hedging products.

Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations and discussions.
	The Government welcome the agreement reached between the FSA and the banks to establish a package of proactive redress for businesses that were mis-sold hedging products, and supports them in the ongoing process.

Schools: Governing Bodies

Phillip Lee: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the affordability to the public purse of paying school governors’ expenses.

Sajid Javid: The Treasury has not carried out an assessment of the affordability of paying school governors’ expenses. Payment of governors’ expenses is discretionary for schools and academies, and we expect them to ensure that any payments are affordable.

Students: Fees and Charges

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in tuition fees on the consumer prices index; and what estimate he has made of the effect of such changes on other departmental budgets.

Sajid Javid: The Office for National Statistics is responsible for producing and publishing official statistics including the consumer prices index (CPI). The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts.
	The OBR provided an assessment of the impact of tuition fees on their economic and fiscal forecasts in the November 2011 “Economic and Fiscal Outlook” and will present updated forecasts alongside the autumn statement on 5 December.

Tax Allowances

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the definitions of mandatory and intrinsic contractual duties of employment regarding their implications for tax relief of the costs associated with externally-provided education courses;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with representatives from the dental nurse profession regarding tax relief for continuing professional development costs.

David Gauke: Following the Court of Appeal judgment in the Revenue and Customs v. Dr Piu Banerjee case, HMRC consulted with various bodies and published revised guidance on the availability of tax relief for training (including CPD) costs incurred by employees.
	That guidance is at EIM 32530:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32530.htm
	and 32535
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32535.htm
	The guidance follows the Court of Appeal judgment of Rimer LJ and makes it clear that tax relief is only available for training costs where all of the conditions set out in EIM32535 apply.

Tax Allowances: Married People

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential effects of introducing a transferable allowance for married couples in the 2013 Budget.

David Gauke: The Government's commitment to bringing forward a proposal to recognise marriage through the tax and benefit system remains firm. We want to show we value commitment and will consider a range of options and bring proposals forward at the appropriate time.

Tax Yields

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of revenues to the Exchequer were accounted for by (a) corporation and (b) income tax in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: Latest public sector finances data in the following table show public sector current receipts, income and capital gains and corporation tax.
	
		
			 £ million/Percentage 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Public sector current receipts    
			 £ million 511,594 548,894 569,286 
			     
			 Income and capital gains tax(1)    
			 £ million 144,040 151,311 152,369 
			 Percentage 28.2 27.2 26.8 
			     
			 Corporation tax(2)    
			 £ million 35,805 42,121 42,151 
			 Percentage 7.0 7.7 7.4 
			 (1 )Includes capital gains tax paid by households. Includes income tax and capital gains tax paid by corporations. (2) HM Revenue and Customs as tax deductions. Includes capital gains tax paid by households. Includes income tax and capital gains tax paid by corporations.

Temporary Employment: Tax Avoidance

Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to combat tax avoidance by companies operating through travel and subsistence schemes for employees;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that employers who operate travel and subsistence expenses schemes do so in full compliance with the provisions of legislation on the national minimum wage.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the House on 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 273W.

Universal Credit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the cost to the Exchequer would be of ensuring that all universal credit claimants continue to benefit from increases to the personal tax allowance since April 2011 to the same extent as those not claiming universal credit.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The personal tax allowance has increased by £1,630 from £6,475 in 2010-11 to £8,105 in 2012-13, and will be increased by a further £1,100 to £9,205 in 2013-14.
	Universal credit is designed to provide support to those that need it and to ensure that incentives to work are maximised. It has been designed to dovetail with the tax system to ensure all claimants are better off as their earnings rise. A recipient of UC will always be better off at a given level of earnings than a non-recipient and all UC recipients will see a financial benefit from increases in personal allowances.

VAT: Newspaper Press

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monetary value was of the VAT concession provided to the newspaper industry in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: We do not have an estimate of the monetary value to the newspaper industry of the zero VAT rate for newspapers in each of the last five years.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data for household expenditure on the category “newspapers and periodicals”. Based on these data, crude estimates of the value of the VAT zero rate for newspapers would be:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2011 850 
			 2010 750 
			 2009 620 
			 2008 780 
			 2007 810 
		
	
	These figures do not account for behavioural effects that would result from a price increase. Nor do they account for business or Government expenditure on newspapers or periodicals.

Winter Fuel Payments

Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the likely administrative costs of means-testing the winter fuel allowance.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	No assessment has been made of the likely administrative costs of means-testing the winter fuel payment. This information would therefore be available only at disproportionate cost.

Working Tax Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in (a) the UK, (b) each region and (c) each parliamentary constituency became ineligible for working tax credit from April 2012 as a result of the increase in the number of hours of work required.

David Gauke: HMRC publishes statistics on the tax credits caseload position in April and December. These publications can be found here:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/prov-main-stats.htm
	The next release, containing data as of December 2012, is due to be published on 20 December 2012. Once this issue has been published we will produce information on the number of families who have lost eligibility as a result of the change in working hours requirements.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department has allocated to the (a) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, (b) East African Community and (c) South African Development Community; for what purposes any such funding was provided; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The UK has the following regional programmes that support the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the South African Development Community (SADC):
	The TradeMark Southern Africa Programme (£100 million) which supports economic growth, competitiveness and regional integration in the Tripartite region (consisting of COMESA-EAC and SADC);
	The TradeMark East Africa Programme (£85.44 million) which promotes EAC integration, trade and competitiveness;
	The Regional Trans-boundary Water Project (£37.3 million) which supports SADC and its member states to develop climate-resilient shared water resources in Southern Africa;
	The Scaling up Energy and Environment Partnership with Southern and East Africa (£27.6 million) which enhances energy access to the rural poor in the SADC and EAC regions;
	The Climate Resilient Agriculture Project (£38 million) which supports the uptake of climate-resilient agricultural practices in the Tripartite region;
	The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (£10 million) which provides support to SADC and COMESA among others to increase economic growth through agriculture-led development; and
	The Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines (£10.7 million) which supports implementation of the SADC pharmaceutical business plan through technical assistance to SADC and its member states.

Africa

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the objectives and measurable outcomes are that she expects her Department's funding allocated to TradeMark East Africa to achieve in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) was designed by DFID and officially launched in February 2011 as a multi-donor, specialist agency on trade facilitation and economic integration. DFID currently provides £85.44 million (56% of TMEA secured funds) alongside funding from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. TMEA focuses on cutting the costs of trade and the national implementation of regional trade agreements in order to increase regional trade competitiveness. Key outcomes expected by 2016 include: a 15% reduction in transport time across East Africa; a 10% increase in export values (above trend); and a 25% increase (above trend) in the share of intra-regional trade as a proportion of East Africa's total trade.
	These outcomes are targeted for achievement by 2016. Outcomes are not targeted by year as the nature of such regional programmes means that it can take time for outcomes to be achieved, but progress is tracked each year through indicators such as: the reduction in average time to import or export a container to or from Burundi and Rwanda to East African ports; the total value of exports from the East African Community (EAC) region to the rest of the world; and the percentage share of intra-regional exports among EAC countries as a proportion of total exports. The annual targets for these indicators are currently being reviewed and we expect to finalise them in the new year. An independent review in early 2012 concluded that TMEA had built a strong foundation and is on track to speed up trade in East Africa by 15%.

Africa

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to support the development of the North-South Transport Corridor initiative in Eastern and Southern Africa since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The UK is supporting the North South Corridor (NSC) initiative led by the Tripartite, consisting of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community and the South African Development Community through the TradeMark Southern Africa Programme. This consists of £67 million for financing NSC infrastructure through the Tripartite Trust Account (TTA) and £33 million for technical and capacity assistance to the Tripartite. We continue to drive the development of the NSC. In 2011, the UK took the step of providing funding and technical support to set up the Project Preparation Implementation Unit which has developed a pipeline of 36 NSC projects spanning 3,317 km (32% of the NSC); two of which have been financed by the TTA.

Africa

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to help (a) Namibia, (b) Sierra Leone and (c) Ghana tackle illegal fishing; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: DFID currently supports an International Partnership for African Fisheries Governance and Trade (PAF) Programme. Linked to this, and merged with it in 2010, has been the establishment of the West African Pilot Project (WAPP) which was set up to inform PAF’s work.
	PAF is a regional programme which supports the development of fisheries policy across Africa. In West Africa, PAF has also supported the Ministries of Fisheries in Ghana and Sierra Leone to develop best management practices, legal and institutional frameworks, including approaches to rights-based management which enhance ownership of fisheries resources by local fishing communities and reduce illegal fishing.
	PAF shares lessons between African countries on how to combat illegal fishing. For example, it supported the Sierra Leone Minister of Fisheries and his staff to visit Namibia in June 2012 to learn how fisheries management and development reform has taken place there, an element of which is the problem of illegal fishing. The programme is also building on the past work of the Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF) campaign, a major source of news on illegal fishing in the region. Information on illegal fishing vessels is now available on the SIF website and regularly updated. The programme is also working to implement a Regional Fisheries Strategic Plan, the operationalisation of the Illegal Fishing Task Force and a Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Centre.

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department will take steps to provide funding for un-adopted schools in Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) already provides support through two non-governmental partners—BRAC (previously known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) and the Under Privileged Children's Education Programme—to un-adopted schools not funded by the GoB.
	These partners target the poorest children that are not in school from remote areas, urban slums, and those with special needs who have limited access to mainstream Government schools. By 2015 we expect 1.3 million children to enrol and complete pre-primary education and 650,000 children to enrol and complete primary education.

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 604W, on Bangladesh, what performance indicators her Department used to measure the success of the project.

Alan Duncan: The high-level indicators for the project are:
	(1) The Economic Relation Division being responsible for managing aid flows which demonstrate improved aid co-ordination and aid-management systems and skills.
	(2) Introduction and full utilisation of a web-based aid-information management system (AIMS) which captures aid-flow information and allows Bangladesh to report accurately and conduct analysis.
	(3) The Local Consultative Group mechanism for aid management, which is a joint Government and development partner forum, is strengthened to function more effectively and direct aid allocation for greater impact. Sector sub-groups have results-oriented work plans.
	(4) Better development results through improved processes and accountability in the allocation and use of foreign aid and domestic resources.
	(5) Aid co-ordination and management capacities of the key Government of Bangladesh Ministries are strengthened, applying principles of effective aid management routinely.

Burma

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure greater co-ordination of the work of relief agencies in Burma.

Alan Duncan: DFID ensures that the funds are well co-ordinated with the work of other agencies by encouraging the United Nations (UN) to strengthen its co-ordination of relief work and by working to ensure the Burmese Government co-ordinates their response with the UN and others. DFID also takes steps to allow full co-ordinated humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas.

Burma

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what technical assistance her Department is providing for reconciliation inside Rakhine state, Burma.

Alan Duncan: DFID has focused on meeting urgent humanitarian needs in Rakhine and is not currently providing technical assistance for reconciliation inside Rakhine state. In addition to core funding of multilateral working in the area, DFID has allocated £2 million of bilateral funds for humanitarian relief for victims of violence in Rakhine state. This includes the provision of improved drinking water and sanitation facilities and treatment for malnutrition. UK Ministers have made several public statements to express our deep concern about the violence. We welcomed the formation of an independent Investigative Commission to probe the violence but made clear that for the Commission to be credible it needed to involve a consultative process with all the affected communities.

Colombia

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2012, Official Report, column 18W, on Colombia, whether her Department has any plans to allocate aid to Colombia in the next three years.

Alan Duncan: DFID has no bilateral aid programme in Colombia and therefore does not plan to allocate aid to Colombia in the next three years. However, other Government Departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change provide funding that is classified as official development assistance.

Consultants

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she plans to publish the findings of her review into the use of private consultants by her Department.

Justine Greening: I will announce shortly any actions that are being taken as a result of the review.

Developing Countries: Diarrhoea

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure a more comprehensive approach to diarrhoea prevention, control and treatment; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: Diarrhoea is major cause of death and ill-health throughout the developing world and is the leading cause of death in children in Africa and the second leading cause globally.
	Diarrhoea is primarily caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene and the World Health Organisation estimates that improving these services could avoid 2.4 million deaths annually. The Department for International Development makes significant investment in water, sanitation and hygiene programmes. These interventions are the most effective—and value for money—investments that can be made to prevent diarrhoea from occurring.
	As part of investments in health systems, the Department also supports the health sector in developing countries to control and treat diarrhoea. Where large outbreaks occur, the Department provides funding for the treatment of diarrhoea, including through the use of oral rehydration therapy and provision of antibiotics where these are required.
	We are conscious that more needs to be done to develop effective diarrhoea prevention and control. To this end the Department funds three key research programmes:
	In collaboration with PATH, we fund the Enteric Diarrhoeal Diseases programme which is developing new vaccines, against a number of different bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhoea;
	Again with PATH, we fund the One World Health programme which is developing new drugs to treat diarrhoea; and,
	The Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity programme which is carrying out research to understand how we can improve sanitation and hygiene and prevent diarrhoea.

Developing Countries: Food

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the Prime Minister's hunger summit, what steps she is taking to eradicate world hunger.

Justine Greening: Between 2011 and 2015, the coalition Government have committed to reach 20 million children and pregnant women in developing countries through our nutrition-related programmes, and ensure another 4 million people have enough food to eat throughout the year.
	At this year's G8 summit, the Prime Minister gave strong support to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition—a new 10-year initiative to lift 50 million people out of poverty and increase food security. The Prime Minister also co-hosted a high-level event on hunger in August this year with the Government of Brazil, at which the UK agreed support to agricultural research that could help feed 45 million people. The Prime Minister has recently confirmed that the UK will continue to lead the battle against hunger with an event on food and nutrition in 2013, a few days before the 2013 G8 summit in Lough Erne.

Developing Countries: Polio

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the UK will provide to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in each of the next five years.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government are strongly committed to polio eradication. The UK Government have disbursed £40 million to the GPEI in the current 2012-13 financial year. As this marks the final year of the current pledge we are now considering our support for future years from 2013.

Developing Countries: Sanitation

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support World Toilet Day in 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: DFID marked World Toilet Day in several ways:
	By contributing a blog piece entitled “Girls, Women and Sanitation—Dignity matters”, as part of WaterAid's "Thunderclap" World Toilet day blog event.
	By holding a seminar in DFID's Palace Street headquarters, featuring both internal and external speakers, on "the role of sanitation and hygiene in improving child survival and development";
	An all-day exhibition in DFID Palace Street Atrium will include a display stand with various posters on sanitation and hygiene.

Foreign Workers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements are in place to monitor working conditions and living standards of employees who work in firms established in UK-supported export processing zones.

Alan Duncan: DFID is helping to deliver good social and environmental standards in economic processing zones (EPZs). For example, in Bangladesh DFID is working with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support a network of 60 labour counsellors who have helped to increase compliance with labour laws in the country's eight EPZs, from 30%-40% to 92% of companies. In 2012, 99% of grievances were resolved. These labour counsellors have also helped to set up Worker Welfare Associations in EPZ factories. More than half of companies operating in the EPZs now have Worker Welfare Associations. The minimum wage inside the EPZs is 33% higher than outside, and the labour counsellors are reporting a 95% compliance with the payment of this minimum wage.
	Through the IFC, DFID has also supported the drafting of a new Economic Zones Act which was passed in 2010. The Act enshrines in law all of the gains for labour in the current EPZs, and seeks to expand worker rights.
	Firms who locate their business in special economic zones are expected to comply with local labour laws.

Nurseries

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many child-care places her Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places her Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans she has for changes in the provision of such child-care places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Alan Duncan: DFID does not offer any child-care places on site. However, in line with other Government Departments, we make use of the Westminster Holiday Playscheme which enables DFID employees who are parents and/or permanent carers (adoptive, step-parents, legal guardians and anyone who has parental right) to book their children into a central London venue from 08:30 to 17:30 during the major school holidays in spring, summer and winter. The scheme is run by Tines and a Committee of Management—comprised of representatives from several Government Departments—administers the contract, under the management of the Metropolitan Police Service.
	The total cost of a place is currently £33.00 per child per day. DFID subsidises the cost of the play scheme by 50% on the cost of each child place.

Overseas Aid

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress her Department has made on implementation of the commitment to double the number of people her Department will reach with water, sanitation and hygiene by 2015; what steps she is taking to make information on such progress readily available; and when she plans to make such information available.

Alan Duncan: Our current or planned programmes that will contribute to meeting this target include:
	1. Programmes managed by our offices in countries in Africa and Asia. We currently have water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes in 15 countries and these are the principal routes through which we will deliver our results.
	2. Existing partnerships with a range of organisations such as the Water and Sanitation Program, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor and WaterAid.
	In addition, the Department is exploring further options including new partnerships with the UN, civil society and the private sector. Once specific programmes are approved, they will be made publically available via the DFID website, alongside annual reviews of progress.
	Specific results of DFID's ongoing WASH programmes are detailed in the “DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12”. Although it is still very early in the process, details of results from the implementation of more recent commitments will be detailed in the next Annual Report, due in June 2013.

Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has received any representations on the use of UK aid to support private sector investment in developing countries to the detriment of local public support networks.

Alan Duncan: There is an ongoing postcard/e-mail campaign organised by World Development Movement. Beyond this, we have received no representations.

Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will consider investigating whether UK aid is being used to encourage private sector investment in regions where such aid may not be in the best interests of such regions.

Justine Greening: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that the private sector is the engine of economic growth and the best way to deliver development in the long term. DFID has systems in place to ensure UK aid programmes—including those that support pro-poor private sector development—are designed, monitored and evaluated to deliver maximum development results for the regions in which they are delivered.

Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the extent to which UK aid is distributed in developing countries through private companies; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: DFID publishes full information on expenditure across its bilateral and multilateral programmes annually through its “Statistics on International Development” publication:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2011/
	In 2012 the total programme expenditure for the Department was £7.7 billion, of which only £483 million was committed through contracts with the private sector for supplier services. This represents only around 6% of the total programme budget.

Sahel

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Sahel region.

Lynne Featherstone: The annual rainy season has brought much needed relief to the 20 million men, women and children who were at risk of going hungry in 2012 across the Sahel. Recent rainfall has been abundant and widespread, resulting in a good start to the growing season. While a significant proportion of people are still feeling the effects of the food and nutrition crisis, the majority of communities across the Sahel are now receiving the support they need.
	The UK Government remain particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation in Northern Mali, where over 300,000 people have been displaced as a result of conflict. The UK is currently delivering urgent humanitarian aid to over 50,000 people in Mali and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that needs are being met as effectively and efficiently as possible.
	Britain was one of the first donors to respond to the food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel this year, providing £25.4 million to support 1.6 million people at risk of hunger across Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Gambia.
	The UK Government will continue to monitor the situation given the chronic state of food insecurity in the region.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Bill of Rights Commission

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 622W, on Bill of Rights, what meetings he has had with the chairman and members of the Commission on a Bill of Rights since the date of that answer; who was present at any such meeting; whether the business of the Commission was discussed at any such meeting; and whether a record of what was said at any such meeting was made.

Nicholas Clegg: Since my answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 622W, I have had no further meetings on a Bill of Rights with the chairman and members of the Commission.

Lobbying

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists.

Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 331W, to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy).

Lord Lieutenants

Kevan Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the job description is of the secretaries to the lords lieutenant of Durham;
	(2)  what the selection procedure is for the appointment of secretaries to lord lieutenants.

Chloe Smith: The selection procedure and job description of lord lieutenants' secretaries is the responsibility of lord lieutenants and their local authorities to determine.

Lord Lieutenants

Kevan Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse of the secretaries to the lords lieutenant of Durham was by cost category in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The cost to the public purse for the clerk, assistant clerk and secretary to the lord lieutenant of Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, in each of the past five years, is set out as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Salary and national insurance 
			 2007-08 31,463 
			 2008-09 32,622 
			 2009-10 35,234 
			 2010-11 35,569 
			 2011-12 35,617

Lord Lieutenants

Kevan Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the selection procedure is for the post of lord lieutenant of Durham.

Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 25 October 2012, Official Report, column 1032W.

CABINET OFFICE

Average Earnings

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average annual salary was for (a) men and (b) women in full-time employment in (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average annual salary was for full-time (a) men and (b) women in (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available. (129688)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Annual levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job for more than a year.
	The following table shows the median gross annual earnings for (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England for full-time employees, full-time male employees and full-time female employees in April 2012.
	
		
			 Median gross annual earnings for full-time employees, full-time males and full-time females(1): (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) England, for April 2012 
			 £ 
			  Liverpool, Walton Consistency(2) Merseyside(3) England 
			 Full-time employees *24,309 24,488 26,800 
			 Full-time males *26,225 26,217 29,102 
			 Full-time females **22,769 22,200 23,321 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2 )Parliamentary constituency. (3) Local authority. Guide to quality:The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable X unreliable Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics.

Charities: Christianity

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what his policy is on long-established Christian charities of all denominations being part of his Big Society initiative;
	(2)  what representations he has received on the use of the public benefit test on Christian organisations by the Charities Commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will give guidance to the Charity Commission that there should be a presumption that existing Christian charities should not have their charitable status removed;
	(4)  what his definition is of the public benefit obligation of Christian organisations as it applies in the Charities Act 2006.

William McCrea: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will review the operation of legislation on public benefit to ensure that previously accepted religious charities are not threatened with removal of their charitable status.

Nick Hurd: The Government recognise that religious charities of all faiths have an important role to play in building a bigger, stronger society.
	The Charities Act 2006 made it clear that no particular purpose is to be presumed to be for the public benefit. The Act removed any presumption of public benefit for charities that advance religion as well as charities for the advancement of education or the relief of poverty. It also required the Charity Commission to issue guidance on the operation of the public benefit requirement, which it did in 2008, including publishing guidance on public benefit and religion.
	I have received a number of representations on the Charity Commission's decision not to register a particular religious organisation as a charity, which has been appealed to the First-Tier Tribunal (Charity). The Charity Commission is statutorily independent of Government, and is not subject to ministerial direction or control. It is answerable to the Tribunals and courts for its legal decisions.

Childbirth

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many live births there were 
	(1)  in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the second quarter of 2011;
	(2)  in each region of England in each quarter since 2001.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on (a) how many live births there were in a) England, b) Scotland, c) Wales and d) Northern Ireland in the second quarter of 2011 and (b) how many live births there were in each region of England in each quarter since 2001. (130173&130174)
	Figures for live births have been compiled from birth registration data. The latest year for which figures are available is 2011.
	The table below shows the number of live births in the second quarter of 2011 in the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. Figures for England and Wales are based on the number of births occurring during the quarter, while figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland relate to the number of births registered during the quarter. The differences between reporting occurrences and registrations are relatively minor and figures are broadly comparable.
	
		
			 Number of live births in the second quarter of 2011 
			 2011 June quarter Number of live births (thousands) 
			 England 170.8 
			 Wales 8.8 
			 Scotland 14.7 
			 Northern Ireland(1, 2) 6.2 
			 (1 )Births to non-resident mothers in Northern Ireland are excluded from the figures for Northern Ireland. (2 )Figures for Northern Ireland are provisional 
		
	
	Figures for more recent quarters are available on the ONS website at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/vital-statistics--population-and-health-reference-tables/index.html
	The following table shows the number of live births to mothers usually resident in England, by quarter of occurrence for 2001-2011. Figures are broken down by region of usual residence of the mother.
	
		
			 Live births by quarter of occurrence and region of usual residence of mother, 2001-2011, England 
			   Region of usual residence of mother 
			 Year and quarter of occurrence England North East North West Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands West Midlands East London South East South West 
			 2001 March 137,790 6,389 18,423 13,347 10,910 14,731 14,808 25,249 21,933 12,000 
			 2001 June 141,177 6,411 18,481 13,978 11,118 15,212 15,259 25,878 22,531 12,309 
			 2001 September 145,140 6,721 19,370 14,286 11,564 15,719 15,448 27,064 22,484 12,484 
			 2001 December 139,637 6,428 18,927 14,014 11,050 15,156 14,575 25,971 21,562 11,954 
			 2002 March 135,920 6,338 17,821 13,162 10,874 14,700 14,591 25,555 21,146 11,733 
			 2002 June 139,805 6,285 18,394 13,955 11,088 15,097 14,950 25,682 22,009 12,345 
			 2002 September 147,114 6,912 19,373 14,453 11,692 15,759 15,562 27,537 22,942 12,884 
			 2002 December 142,870 6,736 19,053 13,965 11,385 15,479 15,068 26,829 21,985 12,370 
			 2003 March 139,944 6,328 18,359 13,803 11,037 15,302 14,928 26,445 21,476 12,266 
			 2003 June 147,276 6,679 19,337 14,225 11,567 15,752 15,624 27,575 23,443 13,074 
			 2003 September 154,461 7,055 20,418 15,231 12,524 16,610 16,489 28,692 24,053 13,389 
			 2003 December 148,170 6,943 19,733 14,664 11,788 16,030 15,670 27,725 22,870 12,747 
			 2004 March 147,349 6,796 19,486 14,500 11,819 15,975 15,841 27,357 22,831 12,744 
			 2004 June 149,579 6,802 19,791 14,913 11,764 16,263 15,814 27,821 23,488 12,923 
			 2004 September 156,934 7,184 21,129 15,461 12,417 17,062 16,685 29,737 23,791 13,468 
			 2004 December 153,322 7,033 20,758 15,319 12,245 16,611 15,910 28,764 23,524 13,158 
			 2005 March 146,383 6,919 19,577 14,534 11,521 15,877 15,426 27,454 22,348 12,727 
			 2005 June 151,798 6,697 19,992 15,036 12,103 16,377 16,066 28,838 23,434 13,255 
			 2005 September 161,425 7,444 21,610 15,879 13,151 17,311 17,313 30,373 24,637 13,707 
			 2005 December 153,422 7,189 20,543 15,216 12,305 16,391 15,882 29,354 23,502 13,040 
		
	
	
		
			 2006 March 151,358 7,058 20,172 15,127 11,964 16,136 15,793 28,642 23,500 12,966 
			 2006 June 157,841 7,226 20,713 15,532 12,687 16,676 16,820 29,822 24,747 13,618 
			 2006 September 166,011 7,606 22,083 16,504 13,316 17,820 17,381 31,177 25,731 14,393 
			 2006 December 160,538 7,294 21,187 15,792 12,750 17,056 16,876 31,257 24,588 13,738 
			 2007 March 155,873 7,008 20,205 15,201 12,298 16,829 16,515 30,084 24,236 13,497 
			 2007 June 160,983 7,176 20,901 15,839 12,994 16,954 16,933 30,788 25,207 14,191 
			 2007 September 172,221 7,824 22,988 16,670 13,817 18,539 18,460 32,606 26,404 14,913 
			 2007 December 166,280 7,574 21,853 16,481 13,373 17,776 17,403 32,027 25,391 14,402 
			 2008 March 164,954 7,479 21,599 16,403 13,324 17,560 17,420 31,315 25,439 14,415 
			 2008 June 167,944 7,492 21,764 16,374 13,423 17,844 18,172 31,820 26,256 14,799 
			 2008 September 173,189 7,673 22,771 17,155 14,103 18,455 18,397 32,742 26,695 15,198 
			 2008 December 166,722 7,573 22,033 16,421 13,342 17,867 17,749 31,774 25,633 14,330 
			 2009 March 160,486 7,017 21,043 16,064 12,938 17,226 16,858 30,960 24,646 13,734 
			 2009 June 166,426 7,363 21,452 16,227 13,128 17,510 18,064 32,152 25,805 14,725 
			 2009 September 172,241 7,727 22,619 16,972 14,090 17,934 18,161 32,900 26,874 14,964 
			 2009 December 171,905 7,669 22,435 17,095 13,590 18,372 18,252 33,233 26,344 14,915 
			 2010 March 165,853 7,410 21,651 16,276 13,295 17,404 17,498 32,170 25,579 14,570 
			 2010 June 167,471 7,500 21,378 16,224 13,355 17,476 17,993 32,490 26,326 14,729 
			 2010 September 176,451 7,992 23,037 17,367 14,428 18,336 18,542 34,107 27,268 15,374 
			 2010 December 177,232 7,924 23,133 17,103 14,154 18,874 18,968 34,344 27,261 15,471 
			 2011 March 166,337 7,365 21,469 15,962 13,225 17,795 17,710 32,038 26,062 14,711 
			 2011 June 170,792 7,499 21,838 16,462 13,820 18,080 18,144 32,916 26,848 15,185 
			 2011 September 176,820 7,831 22,629 17,166 14,304 18,671 18,810 34,423 27,396 15,590 
			 2011 December 174,171 7,832 22,816 16,861 14,029 18,477 18,556 33,466 26,826 15,308 
			 Note: Quarter refers to quarter ending in month stated. Source: Office for National Statistics

Childbirth: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children were born at (a) the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and (b) Poole General Hospital in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many children were born at a) the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and b) Poole General Hospital in each of the last three years. (130035)
	Figures for live births by hospital have been compiled from birth registration data. Information on place of birth is provided by the Registry Office, rather than by the hospitals themselves. Information for 2009, 2010 and 2011 is provided in the table:
	
		
			 Live births occurring in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole General Hospital, 2009 to 2011 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 Royal Bournemouth Hospital 468 429 492 
			 Poole General Hospital 4,421 4,651 4,690 
			 Source: Birth Registration Data, ONS

Departmental Records

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department manually or electronically stores files and extracts from the PREM 15 series that have been retained by the Department.

Francis Maude: holding answer 22 November 2012
	Historical records retained by the Cabinet Office under Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958, including those from the PREM 15 series (Prime Minister's Office: correspondence and papers, 1970-74), are paper records and must be retrieved manually.

Employment Agencies

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the use of offshore employment companies in the supply of public sector workers in his Department and its associated public bodies.

Francis Maude: Any consideration to use such companies would be undertaken on a case-by-case basis.

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

Francis Maude: Details of all 2011-12 grant programmes can be found in note 9.1 to the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 which is available online at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts
	Details of prior years can be found in note 11 to the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

Job Creation: Private Sector

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of new jobs created in the private sector between August 2010 and August 2012 in Scotland were part-time positions.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question.
	Information regarding jobs created is not available. As an alternative, we are able to estimate the increase in private sector employment using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Between the APS periods July 2009-June 2010 and July 2011-June 2012, 80% of the increase was in part-time employment.
	In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. APS estimates are based on interviews that took place throughout the 12 months covered by the survey period.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Job Creation: Private Sector

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of new jobs created in the private sector between August 2010 and August 2012 in Scotland were permanent positions.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking: What proportion of new jobs created in the private sector between August 2010 and August 2012 in Scotland were permanent positions. 130152
	Information regarding jobs created is not available. As an alternative, we are able to estimate the increase in private sector employment using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Between the APS periods July 2009-June 2010 and July 2011-June 2012, 94% of the increase was in permanent employment.
	In the APS the distinction between public and private sector is based on respondents' views about the organisation for which they work. APS estimates are based on interviews that took place throughout the 12 months covered by the survey period.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Jobseeker's Allowance: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what proportion of people on jobseeker's allowance in Havering are below the age of 25;
	(2)  how many people in Havering are currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance;
	(3)  how many people in Havering are currently unemployed.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking:
	1. What proportion of people on jobseeker's allowance in Havering are below the age of 25? (130393)
	2. How many people in Havering are currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance? (130395)
	3. How many people in Havering are currently unemployed? (130396)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	1. The proportion of the people claiming JSA in Havering, aged from 16 to 24 years in October 2012, was 29%.
	2. The number of people resident in Havering, who were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in October 2012 was 5449.
	The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of total unemployment for unitary and local authorities, from a statistical model based on the Annual Population Survey (APS) lending strength from the Claimant Count, following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	3. For the period July 2011 to June 2012, the most recent period for which figures are available, there were 10,300 people unemployed in Havering.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Manufacturing Industries: Temporary Employment

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of people working in the manufacturing sector who are agency or temporary workers.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of people working in the manufacturing sector who are agency or temporary workers. (129434)
	Estimates of people who are in employment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). For the period July-September 2012 it is estimated that 5 per cent of the total number of people in employment in the manufacturing industries in the UK were temporary employees.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Military Medals Review

Jason McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what timescale has been set for the Sir John Holmes Medal Review into the National Defence Medal;
	(2)  how many phases of Sir John Holmes's Military Medal Review into the National Defence Medal he has commissioned;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy that there should be an appeals process in relation to the findings made by the Sir John Holmes Medal Review into the National Defence Medal.

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the first recommendations of the second stage of Sir John Holmes's Military Medal Review will be made; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: I refer my hon. Friends to the answers I gave on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 214W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) and the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling).
	Sir John Holmes has made good progress on the further work he was invited to undertake on the Military Medals Review and this work is being completed in stages. There is not however a finite number of phases of work; Sir John will decide how best to proceed and manage the work.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason, under the Joint Action Plan between the UN and the Government of Burma, the UN is forbidden from entering areas controlled by non-state armed groups.

Hugo Swire: There are restrictions on humanitarian access to ethnic areas, particularly in Kachin State. The Burmese Government state this is due in part because the security of UN staff cannot be guaranteed. There have been a few aid convoys allowed into areas controlled by ethnic groups over the last six months, but we recognise that the frequency and geographical scope of these convoys needs to improve. Our ambassador and officials from our embassy in Rangoon continue to regularly raise the need for unrestricted access for humanitarian aid with senior members of the Burmese Government. I will again raise these concerns with Burma's political leaders on my forthcoming visit to the country.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on how many UK citizens are (a) in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) at risk as a result of the ongoing security problems in the region.

Mark Simmonds: We are aware of a small number of British nationals who have remained in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to eastern and north-eastern DRC due to the security situation and we advise any British nationals in North and South Kivu, Goma or Bukavu to leave. Our ability to provide consular assistance in the affected areas is extremely limited, however British consular staff have been assisting British nationals who wish to leave, and are in regular contact with the small number who have chosen to remain against our clear advice. The situation is fast moving and we advise British nationals to regularly check our travel advice.

Iran

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of Iranian dissidents executed since January 2012; if he will condemn such executions; and what steps he is taking to support peaceful, political opposition to the Iranian regime.

Alistair Burt: There have been over 300 executions in Iran since January, most of which were for drugs offences. Executions are often carried out in secret and based on vague charges. It is therefore difficult to establish what proportion could be considered dissidents. We frequently condemn Iran's excessive use of the death penalty, such as in a statement I made on 24 October. It is for the Iranian people to choose their own Government, but the UK strongly supports the right of Iranian citizens to freedom of expression.

Iraq

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any reliable evidence has been presented supporting the Government of Iraq's claim to ownership of the properties in Camp Ashraf under international law; and whether the Government support the Government of Iraq's claim or that of the residents of Camp Ashraf.

Alistair Burt: The UK, in common with other international partners, believes it is for the sovereign Government of Iraq and the leadership of Camp Ashraf to resolve the future of residents of the Camp, including the issue of property ownership, through meaningful and peaceful negotiation. The UK continues to press all sides to reach a peaceful solution, and for the Government of Iraq to respect the human rights of the residents of Camp Ashraf.

Mali

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the decision by West African nations to send troops to Mali to deal with al-Qaeda-linked terrorists there.

Mark Simmonds: Britain continues to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) efforts to restore peace and stability in the context of an international military intervention force. We also support UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2071, adopted on 12 October, which reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to a unified Mali and called for greater co-ordination from the international community, including on security, development and humanitarian issues. The resolution requested the UN Secretary-General to provide military and security planning resources to ECOWAS and the African Union, and declared the UN's readiness to authorise an international military force to intervene in Mali if requested to do so by the Malian authorities. The Secretary-General is due to report on the implementation of the resolution on 26 November, after which we will consider, with international partners, what further action is needed. We continue to believe that any military planning must be conducted in parallel with political negotiations and humanitarian planning.

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether there has been (a) Libyan, (b) Egyptian and (c) Iranian involvement in providing advanced weaponry to Hamas and other terrorist organisations in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: We are not aware that the Libyan or Egyptian Governments have provided advanced weaponry or other arms to Hamas and other terrorist organisations in Gaza.
	We are aware of reports of arms-smuggling in and through the Sinai Peninsula and are monitoring the situation. We welcome Egypt's efforts to secure an agreement to end hostilities on 21 November.
	The UK is aware that Iran does provide support, including weaponry, to militant groups such as Hamas. Such support is unacceptable and in direct contravention to the UN embargo on the export of weapons by Iran (UNSCR 1747). Iran's support to these groups directly undermines prospects for peace in the region and further undermines the Iranian Government's claim to the international community, and its own people, that it supports stability in the middle east.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to promote the enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions that state that Gaza is an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to the Gaza Strip.

Alistair Burt: A lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be a solution that includes Gaza. We have raised our concerns with Israel that any actions taken in respect of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, must be in accordance with its obligations under international law. Given the degree of control Israel retains over Gaza's borders, airspace and territorial waters, it retains obligations as an occupying power under International Humanitarian Law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the continued blockade of Gaza on the middle east peace process.

Alistair Burt: A lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be a solution that includes Gaza.
	We have been clear that there is a need for Israel to further ease its restrictions on Gaza. These restrictions have been estimated as costing the Palestinian economy up to 85% of its Gross Domestic Product every year.
	While we will never underestimate the security needs of Israel, with unemployment in Gaza at 26%, private sector business there at risk of collapse, and Hamas profiting from smuggled goods through the tunnels, there is an urgent need to reopen Gaza's access to its traditional markets in the West Bank and Israel. An improved economy is not only essential for the people of Gaza, but firmly in Israel's security interests.
	We are clear that more needs to be done, including on easing restrictions on exports, construction material imports and the movement of people. The UK will continue to work alongside our EU partners with Israel to achieve the real changes on the ground that we are looking for.
	The UK's goal is a negotiated two-state solution, resulting in a sovereign and viable Palestinian state living alongside a secure and universally recognised Israel. We will continue to be one of the principal supporters of Palestinian state-building efforts, assisting them to tackle poverty, build institutions and boost their economy.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the blockade of Gaza on creating a tunnel economy between Gaza and Egypt and facilitating the import of illegal weapons.

Alistair Burt: We have been clear that the Israeli restrictions on movement of goods and people do tremendous damage to the economy and living standards of ordinary people in Gaza and only serve to strengthen, not weaken, Hamas. Hamas is clearly profiting from smuggled goods through the tunnels, including the import of weapons.
	An improved economy is not only essential for the people of Gaza, but firmly in Israel's security interests.
	In close co-ordination with our European Union partners and the Office of the Quartet Representation, we have continued to press the Israeli Government at ministerial and official level to ease access restrictions. We welcome some recent small steps in this direction, including the first exports of textile goods from Gaza to the UK in May this year.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that the Hamas leader Ahmed Jabari had been giving consideration to a full ceasefire proposal at the time of his assassination.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of media reports that Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari was giving consideration to a full ceasefire proposal before his death.
	The British Government does not have any direct contact with Hamas, so we are unable to verify these reports.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will offer support to Palestinians calling for peace and self-determination.

Alistair Burt: We are clear that there is an urgent need to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict, to give the Palestinian people the state that they need and deserve, and the Israeli people the security and peace that have eluded them for so long.
	The way to achieve this is a negotiated two-state solution resulting in a secure and universally recognised Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem the future capital of both states, and a fair, just and agreed settlement for refugees.
	The priority now is for the United States, supported by the international community, to show strong leadership and make a huge effort to push the middle east peace process forward in the coming months and we have made this clear to the Obama Administration. This offers the best opportunity of progress towards our ultimate goal of a two-state solution, which the UK strongly supports.

Middle East

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the number of rockets that have been fired from Gaza into Israel since 30 October 2012; what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Israel on such attacks; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alistair Burt: We have received reports that 287 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel between 30 October and 14 November. According to Israeli Defence Forces figures, 1,443 rockets were fired during the period 14-21 November.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to his Israeli counterpart about the recent escalation of violence in and around Gaza on 17 and 21 November. I also spoke to Mr Lieberman during my visit to Israel on 21 November.

Middle East

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on preventing civilian casualties in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: The British Government are gravely concerned by the recent violence in Gaza and southern Israel and deeply regret the loss of civilian life. We consistently called on those involved to avoid any action which risked civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised this issue during discussions with his Israeli counterpart Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on 17 and 21 November. I also spoke to Foreign Minister Lieberman during my visit to Israel on 21 November and again on 22 November.

Middle East

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Government of Israel to stop the demolition of houses in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Our ambassador to Tel Aviv raised this issue with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 9 October. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli Legal System.

Middle East

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Government of Israel to stop settlement building.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly condemned Israel's announcements to accelerate settlement building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem and called on Israel to reverse these. As well as being illegal under international law, settlements undermine the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and those working for a sustainable peace.
	We look to the Government of Israel to take all necessary steps to prevent settlement construction and raise this issue on a regular basis with the Israeli authorities.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the need to amend its constitution to bring it into alignment with international human rights instruments; and what assistance his Department plans to offer the DPRK on improving respect for and protection and promotion of human rights.

Hugo Swire: The United Kingdom has repeatedly urged the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to implement their international human rights obligations and have offered assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to support this. On 27 September 2012, officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met a visiting delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this meeting, officials raised our concerns about human rights, outlined the UK's approach to reporting for its United Nations Periodic Review (UPR) and offered to provide the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with further advice to support its reporting for its own forthcoming UPR. On 20 November 2012, our ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea met the Europe Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he reiterated these human rights concerns. The ambassador also offered to share the United Kingdom's expertise of implementing international human rights instruments. We have not yet received a response from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to either of these offers.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on article 233 of the Criminal Code.

Hugo Swire: On 20 November 2012, our ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea met with the Europe Director in the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this meeting, he raised the UK's concerns about the continued reports of human rights abuses identified in the Special Rapporteur's most recent report to the United Nations. The report includes concerns about article 233 of the Criminal Code which imposes up to five years of labour for anyone illegally crossing DPRK borders.
	On 2 November 2012, the UK also participated in a United Nations debate on the report issued by the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, where we made clear that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's criminalisation of people crossing its borders infringed on their right to freedom of movement.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to release all persons who have been detained under the guilt by association policy.

Hugo Swire: The Government are clear that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's guilt by association policy breaches international human rights standards. On 20 November 2012, our ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea met the Europe Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this meeting, he raised our concerns about reports of human rights abuses identified in the Special Rapporteur's most recent report to the United Nations, including the need for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately release all persons who are held under the policy of guilt by association.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on findings and recommendations of his recent report to the UN General Assembly.

Hugo Swire: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 October 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA30-31, where he stated that United Kingdom officials in New York would meet the Special Rapporteur to discuss his report to the General Assembly. This meeting was unfortunately postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. We are looking for opportunities to reschedule it in advance of the Human Rights Council in March.
	On 2 November, the UK participated in the debate on the Special Rapporteur's report, where we raised concerns about the food situation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's prioritisation of the military through the “Songbun” policy. We also raised concerns about the criminalisation of people crossing national borders, repatriation of refugees from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to engage with international human rights mechanisms on prison camps.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through the UN Human Rights Council or General Assembly.

Hugo Swire: A proposal to set up a commission of inquiry has not been put to the United Nations Human Rights Council or General Assembly. If it is brought to the United Nations, the Government will consider the merits of the proposal and how this could complement our other bilateral and multilateral work.
	The United Kingdom continues to make clear to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's authorities our concerns about the human rights situation in the country.

Nuclear Weapons

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK will be represented at the meeting in Oslo in March 2013 on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of Norway's intention to host a conference in March 2013 on the humanitarian consequences of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Norway has not yet issued invitations for the conference. The Government will respond to any invitation once it has been received.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government had with the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in advance of his decision to permit performing marine mammals to be held in captivity in the TCI.

Mark Simmonds: The British Government had no discussions with the Governor on this issue. This is a matter for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

Uganda

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Ugandan counterpart on Uganda's policies on human rights and sexual orientation.

Mark Simmonds: The British Government are committed to ensuring that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people around the world are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment. We are therefore concerned about the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament. We have raised our concerns regularly. Most recently. I raised this issue with President Museveni during my visit to Uganda on 21 November.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to seek international agreement to regulate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Alistair Burt: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles is a matter for the states involved. We expect all concerned to act in accordance with international law.

Western Sahara

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether the Saharawi people have been consulted as to their wishes in respect of the export of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: We support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to encourage Morocco and the Polisario Front to address issues regarding the use of the territory's natural resources. In his most recent annual report on Western Sahara, published in April 2012, the UN Secretary-General notes that in November 2011 the two parties held a technical discussion about natural resources in Western Sahara.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Moroccan soldiers are stationed in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara; and where they are stationed.

Alistair Burt: We do not hold this information.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK about political persecution in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary and I discuss Western Sahara, including human rights issues, when we meet our Moroccan counterparts. The Government strongly support the UN-led efforts to encourage agreement on a lasting and mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult representatives of the Saharawi population on any proposed renewal of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the Polisario as to the wishes of the Saharawi people concerning any renewal of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement that could include waters off Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: The UK fully supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to encourage Morocco and the Polisario Front to address issues regarding the use of territory's natural resources. We continue to call on Morocco to produce evidence that the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement is conducted to the benefit of the people of Western Sahara. We have no current plans to consult on this issue.

Western Sahara

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether the Moroccan flags that were surrounding the offices of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) offices in Al Aaiun, Western Sahara have been removed.

Alistair Burt: When staff from the British embassy in Rabat last visited Laayoune, in October 2012, there were still Moroccan flags surrounding the MINURSO offices.

Western Sahara

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has taken towards fulfilling its mandate to organise a referendum on self-determination in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: The UN Secretary-General's last annual report on Western Sahara, published in April 2012, contains a detailed account of MINURSO's activities over the previous year. These include monitoring of the ceasefire, regular contacts with the two parties to the dispute, and work clearing landmines in Western Sahara. The next annual report is expected to be published in April 2013.

Western Sahara

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Moroccan ambassador on reports of the lack of freedom of expression and freedom of association in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: We have discussed these issues with the Moroccan authorities, both at senior level in Rabat and during the embassy's regular visits to Western Sahara itself.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many paid apprentices he expects to be employed in his Department in (a) each remaining month of the 2012-13 financial year and (b) 2013-14.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business Innovation and Skills will, between December 2012 and March 2013, have 38 apprentices. We anticipate launching a further scheme in the new year.

Apprentices

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts there were in each sector for each sex in England in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2010-11.

Matthew Hancock: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts by sector subject area and gender. Final data are shown for the 2010-11 academic year and provisional data are shown for the 2011-12 academic year.
	Provisional data for the 2011-12 academic year provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. They should not be directly compared with final year data from previous years. Figures for 2011-12 will be finalised in January 2013.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by sector subject area and gender, 2010/11 to 2011/12 (provisional) 
			  2010/11 (final) 2011/12 (provisional) 
			 Sector subject area Female Male All Female Male All 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 3,070 4,310 7,380 2,620 4,800 7,420 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing 330 700 1,030 470 680 1,150 
			 Business, Administration and Law 87,410 46,410 133,820 102,390 56,900 159,290 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 440 27,650 28,090 400 22,570 22,960 
			 Education and Training 3,580 490 4,070 5,660 1,080 6,740 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 2,990 45,970 48,970 5,120 51,880 57,000 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 73,460 16,510 89,970 82,630 21,910 104,550 
			 Information and Communication Technology 4,920 14,610 19,520 3,930 14,260 18,190 
			 Languages, Literature and Culture * * * * * * 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 6,290 15,290 21,590 5,660 13,830 19,490 
			 Preparation for Life and Work * * * * * * 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 63,500 39,280 102,770 57,050 48,330 105,380 
			 Science and Mathematics * 10 10 150 210 360 
			 All 246,000 211,200 457,200 266,100 236,400 502,500 
			 “*”indicates a figure of less than 5. Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for the overall totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Provisional data for 2011/12 should not be directly compared with data for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many apprenticeships had a length of stay that was (a) 53, (b) 29, (c) 17 and (d) 13 weeks in the 2011-12 academic year;
	(2)  how many apprenticeships have a planned length of stay of less than 53 weeks in the 2012-13 academic year;
	(3)  how many individuals started more than one apprenticeship at the same programme level in the academic year 2011-12.

Matthew Hancock: Table 1 shows provisional apprenticeship achievements (adjusted) by duration for the 2011-12 academic year. Care should be taken when interpreting apprenticeship durations as they are dependent on the mix of apprenticeship levels and frameworks, and the prior attainment of learners (some will already have completed parts of the apprenticeship). The adjusted measure is intended to exclude those apprentices with some prior attainment.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship achievements (adjusted) by duration, 2011/12 (provisional) 
			 Number of weeks Achievements (adjusted) 
			 13 360 
			 17 1,010 
			 29 3,190 
		
	
	
		
			 53 5,490 
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Provisional data for 2011/12 should not be directly compared with data for earlier years. 3. The number of achievements at any point during the year are counted. Learners achieving more than one framework will appear more than once. 4. In order to be counted as a successful achievement, all elements of the framework must have been achieved. 5. 13 weeks includes those apprenticeships lasting more than 12 weeks but less than or equal to 13 weeks. Similarly for other durations. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Provisional data show that there were 2,500 learners who started more than one apprenticeship at the same programme level in the 2011-12 academic year.
	Provisional data for the 2011-12 academic year provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. They should not be directly compared with final year data from previous years. Figures for 2011-12 will be finalised in January 2013.
	Data for 2012-13 are not yet available. The first figures for 2012-13 will be published in January 2013.
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 11 October 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Information on the number of apprenticeship achievements by duration is published on the Data Service website:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_other_statistics/

Arms Trade: Exports

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many defence export licences were (a) issued and (b) declined in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011, where it was necessary to take account of the continuing tensions over Kashmir.

Michael Fallon: Information on export licences granted and refused for each destination, including a description and the value of the goods licensed for export, has been published since 1997 in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls. Since 2004 this information has also been published in quarterly reports. The reports are available online on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website
	https://www.exportcontroldb.bis.gov.uk/eng/fox/sdb/SDBHOME
	The most recent report covers the period April to June 2012.
	For each of the relevant years there were, respectively, (a) 681, (b) 716, (c)689 and (d) 751 licences granted for military goods to India or Pakistan; and (a) 5, (b) 2, (c) 0, and (d) 3 licences for military goods refused for India or Pakistan. It is not possible to say to what extent the situation in Kashmir was considered as part of the assessment of these licence applications without examining each case individually, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Billing

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2012, Official Report, column 412W, on procurement, if he will extend the contractual requirement that payment reaches the third tier of the supply chain within 30 days on Government construction projects to cover tiers lower than the third; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 22 November 2012
	There are no plans to extend this contractual requirement at the moment; however, central Government have led the way in the use of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs). Using PBAs, payments due are made by the Government client to Tier 3 of the supply chain within five days. In instances where PBAs are not used, the requirement for contractors to pay their sub-contractors within 30 days—in line with the Government's Prompt Payment Code—is specified in contract terms.
	Beyond Tier 3, Cabinet Office operates a Mystery Shopper Line, which allows all contractors to report issues concerning public procurement, including those associated with payment, enabling efforts to focus on areas where problems have been raised.

Business: Government Assistance

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many business mentors have signed up to his Department's mentoring initiative; and what assessment he has made of when the target of 26,000 business mentors will be reached.

Michael Fallon: Over 13,000 volunteers from the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community have now completed Government-funded training through the Get Mentoring project, delivered by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI). Once trained, the Get Mentoring volunteers along with the existing network of business mentors are accessible through mentorsme.co.uk, the national mentoring portal owned and operated by the British Bankers' Association (BBA). We are on track to reach our target of a national mentoring network of 26,000 mentors by the end of December.

Business: Government Assistance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to pages 11-12 of his Department's strategy for sustainable growth, published in July 2010, on access to finance, how many grants have been made as part of the Growth Capital Fund since it was created; how much such funding has been provided in such grants; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The creation of the Growth Capital Fund was announced by the previous Government to address the funding gap identified by the Rowlands Review which affects established businesses of between £10 million and £100 million turnover seeking growth finance of £2 million to £10 million.
	The coalition Government negotiated with the banks to increase their contribution to the Fund, which led to the establishment instead of the £2.5 billion private sector-run and wholly bank-funded Business Growth Fund. While the Government are not an investor in the Business Growth Fund and play no part in its management, the Fund is much larger than the Growth Capital Fund would have been and therefore has the potential to benefit many more growing companies.
	So far, the Business Growth Fund has made 18 investments totalling over £90 million in growing companies. More detail of which companies have benefited is available from the Business Growth Fund website.

Employment Agencies

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the use of offshore employment companies in the supply of public sector workers in his Department and its associated public bodies.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills only uses those employment companies listed under Government Procurement Service framework agreements as these offer value for money, fully EU- compliant procurement solutions and are compliant with the recommendations of the Government's review into the tax arrangements of senior public sector appointees.
	Information related to each of the Department's many non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Export Credit Guarantees

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment is taking to encourage UK Export Finance to provide more credit insurance cover to UK companies looking to do business in the Middle East and North Africa.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) works closely with UK Export Finance, formally the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), to promote its products and services to eligible UK exporters. ECGD is able to consider the provision of credit insurance, and other forms of support, to most Middle East and North African countries. ECGD was the first major Export Credit Agency to resume support to Libya following the fall of the Gaddafi regime.

Exports

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to position and promote the UK's financial and professional services in (a) Morocco and (b) other international growth markets.

Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 November 2012, Official Report, column 594W.
	In my answer I noted that, with our industry partners, we are working to support new international centres including Moscow, Istanbul and Dubai. Building partnerships like these provide an opening for UK businesses into these markets.
	In October a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between CityUK and the Moroccan Financial Board, with the aim of strengthening relationships and providing export opportunities for businesses in both nations. The MOU is also intended to assist the development of the securities and derivative markets; to encourage education and training in the financial services sector; and to help build an insurance and reinsurance sector that will benefit the wider African market.

Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Trade and Investment has a main point of contact for High Value Opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.

Michael Fallon: Helena Hadden is the lead contact for High Value Opportunities (HVOs) in the Middle East. Denise Harris is lead for HVOs in Libya. Both can be contacted via the main UKTI inquiry line (020 7215 5000).

Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many companies approached UK Trade and Investment in 2009-10 to receive assistance (a) exporting and (b) investing in (i) Mauritania, (ii) Morocco, (iii) Algeria, (iv) Tunisia, (v) Libya, (vi) Egypt, (vii) Israel, (viii) Lebanon, (ix) Jordan, (x) Iraq, (xi) Saudi Arabia, (xii) United Arab Emirates, (xiii) Bahrain, (xiv) Qatar and (xv) Oman;
	(2)  how many companies approached UK Trade and Investment to receive assistance exporting or investing in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman in 2011-12;
	(3)  how many companies approached UK Trade and Investment to receive assistance exporting or investing in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman in 2010-11.

Michael Fallon: We do not collect data on all approaches made on specific markets. The following table represents specific recorded chargeable services to business during the years requested.
	
		
			  2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 Mauritania 0 0 0 
			 Morocco 19 11 16 
			 Algeria 9 21 16 
			 Tunisia 28 4 9 
			 Libya 44 35 1 
			 Egypt 34 27 29 
			 Israel 21 19 26 
			 Lebanon 13 4 10 
			 Jordan 28 32 33 
			 Iraq 8 16 27 
			 Saudi Arabia 131 112 112 
			 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 173 134 125 
			 Bahrain 26 24 16 
		
	
	
		
			 Qatar 62 46 68 
			 Oman 22 22 41

Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment has taken to create forums where companies can share their experiences of exporting or investing in the Middle East and North Africa.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has established the Middle East Task Force and the Libya CEO Forum. UKTI also organises many events including seminars, round tables and other networking activities for companies, in addition to participating in activities organised by our business stakeholders.

Foreign Investment in UK

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the amount of foreign direct investment in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (c) England and Wales in each of the last three years; and how many jobs were created as a result of foreign direct investment in each such year.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment collects and verifies data on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in the United Kingdom. The following table shows the official record of FDI projects in Suffolk; Bury St. Edmunds; England and Wales.
	
		
			  2011/12 2010/11 2009/10 
			  Projects Jobs created Projects Jobs created Projects Jobs created 
			 England total(1) 1,260 44,974 1,269 33,419 1,409 45,026 
			 Wales 26 2,028 28 2,444 68 3,431 
			 Suffolk 8 136 9 456 9 1095 
			 Bury St Edmunds 0 0 1 145 0 0 
			 (1) Includes Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds

Further Education: West Midlands

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many further education colleges have received funding for new projects from his Department in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands in each financial year since 2006; and how much such funding his Department plans to provide in each financial year up to 2015-16.

Matthew Hancock: It is not possible to quantify the number of further education (FE) colleges that have received funding for new projects since 2006 from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its predecessor Departments. Funding for FE and skills for 2013-14 will be announced through the Skills Funding Statement in December 2012.

Higher Education

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to promote UK higher education in the Middle East and North Africa.

David Willetts: The Government promote UK education through a range of channels, including the Higher Education (HE) Global Integrated Advisory Service website which brings together services and information provided by Government and partner organisations
	http://heglobal.international.ac.uk/
	and the Education UK website, managed by the British Council
	www.educationuk.org/UK/A-UK-education
	Through ministerial engagement with our overseas counterparts the Government are supporting the UK HE sector to develop partnerships between UK and MENA (Middle East North Africa) HE institutions.
	UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides support for universities to explore collaborative opportunities in the middle east and north Africa through its network of trade and investment offices based at British embassies and consulates and a programme of outward missions and exhibitions aimed at profiling UK education excellence to key decision-makers and influencers in these markets.
	Examples include the forthcoming UKTI supported trade mission to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Dubai from 9-13 December 2012, which will explore opportunities for UK corporate and executive training providers in these markets—a number of UK universities will participate in this visit and a trade mission to Libya in February 2013 to explore the potential for bilateral collaboration in the higher education sector.

New Businesses: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of business start-ups in (a) the east of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) Bury St. Edmunds constituency in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of business start-ups in (a) the East of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) Bury St. Edmunds constituency in each of the last five years. (129651)
	Annual statistics on the number of business start-ups, which we refer to as “enterprise births”, are available in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/2010/stb---business-demography-2010.html#tab-Headlines-figures
	The table contains the latest figures available on the number of enterprise births in (a) the East of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) Bury St. Edmunds constituency.
	
		
			 Count of enterprise births in (a) the East of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) Bury St. Edmunds constituency, 2006-2010 
			  East of England Suffolk Bury St Edmunds 
			 2006 25,055 2,775 435 
			 2007 27,600 3,060 480 
			 2008 25,975 2,590 410 
			 2009 23,535 2,365 360 
			 2010 22,580 2,205 360 
			 Note: The above figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Photographs

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to adopt the Photo Marketing Association proposals for identity photographs for use in Government documentation.

Stephen Hammond: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has just awarded its Front Office Counter Services contract to Post Office Ltd. The framework will allow other Government Departments to use the contract. This follows a full procurement process, in line with EU regulations. The contract has been awarded on a non-exclusive basis to ensure competition can continue.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is the 100% shareholder of Post Office Ltd. Commercial and operational decisions are the responsibility of Post Office Ltd, including decisions on any partners the company works with to deliver its services.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is in discussion with the wider high street photography sector, to explore how it can use the non-exclusive nature of the contract to create further innovative solutions for service delivery. The Photo Marketing Association proposals are not the only solutions under consideration. The potential options will be assessed against quality and security requirements, customer service in terms of convenience and overall cost as well as compliance with the Government's Digital Strategy.

Post Offices: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many sub-post offices there were in each local authority area in the East of England in each of the last three years.

Jo Swinson: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the chief executive officer of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Power Stations: Export Credit Guarantees

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make the approval of applications for Export Credits Guarantee Department support for power stations conditional on the carbon emissions rate at a station being no higher than those generated by an emissions performance standard modern gas plant.

Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to my written ministerial statement of 17 July 2012, Official Report, columns 115-16WS, which outlines the conditions for Export Credits Guarantee Department's support for fossil-fuel energy production.

Procurement

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts have been awarded by his Department or its agencies to Business and Enterprise Commercial Ltd in each of the last two years.

Jo Swinson: Having undertaken an analysis from the latest expenditure data we have access to, there have been no payments made to Business and Enterprise Commercial Ltd in either of the last two years.
	I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Gentleman.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects the full allocation of funds to have been drawn down by all bidders under (a) round one, (b) round two and (c) round three of the Regional Growth Fund; and what benchmarks and targets (i) he and (ii) his officials have set for that process.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 9 November 2012
	I expect the full allocation of funds to have been drawn down by all bidders by March 2015 irrespective of bidding round. For round 3, selected bidders have until 19 January to sign final offers, and until 19 April to complete due diligence.
	Officials maintain a regular forecast of payments, based on information from beneficiaries, in order to inform discussions with the Treasury throughout the year. The Department expects grant payments will be made within 30 days of a claim as set out in all offer letters.

Satellite Communications

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the return on the expenditure of funds on the European Space Agency's ARTES satellite telecommunications development programme since 2008.

David Willetts: The UK subscription to ARTES during the 2008-12 period was 169 million euros and the subscription was fully allocated. The ARTES programme covers a variety of activity from foundation technology through to demonstration missions (Hylas, Alphasat) and applications programmes, such as the Integrated Applications Promotion programme (IAP). Due to the nature of the variety in the programme some of the returns will not reach maturity for a number of years but the continued support has demonstrated consistent growth in the sector.
	The programme itself requires match funding for many of the activities so generates an immediate 2:1 return on the public investment. The impact to date can be measured by the changes in the size and health figures collated by UK Space Agency. Comparing the 2008 and 2012 figures shows that the satellite telecoms sector has grown in terms of annual revenue from £4.9 billion to £7.8 billion. This gives a current return on expenditure in the order of 20:1.

Staff

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff UK Trade and Investment employed in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2009-10.

Michael Fallon: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today (PQ 129298). The level of staffing in these markets has been constant with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, each of which has increased by one full-time equivalent in the period in question.

Staff

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff UK Trade and Investment employs in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman. [Official Report, 5 December 2012, Vol. 554, c. 7MC.]

Michael Fallon: UKTI is not an employer in its own right; for the majority of its human resource requirements it draws on civil service staff employed by one or other of its two parent Departments—the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)—and staff from its private sector contractors.
	The following figures are the full-time equivalent of people working to UKTI objectives in each market, bearing in mind that some staff on the network work across multiple objectives and record the appropriate percentage of their time to each. These figures were compiled after the end of Q2 of this financial year, and are the most up to date currently available. Inevitably there may have been some changes to these figures since they were compiled.
	
		
			  Number 
			 (a) Mauritania 0 
			 (b) Morocco 5.1 
			 (c) Algeria 3.3 
			 (d) Tunisia 2.7 
			 (e) Libya 7.6 
		
	
	
		
			 (f) Egypt 11.1 
			 (g) Israel 4.3 
			 (h) Lebanon 3.2 
			 (i) Jordan 5.1 
			 (j) Iraq 5.2 
			 (k) Saudi Arabia 24.7 
			 (l) UAE 25.3 
			 (m) Bahrain 4.2 
			 (n) Qatar 8.3 
			 (o) Oman 6.1

Trade Agreements

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the status is of his Free Trade Agreement negotiations with (a) Egypt, (b) Jordan, (c) Morocco and (d) Tunisia.

Michael Fallon: Draft negotiating mandates for Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (DCFTAs) between the EU and Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia respectively were agreed by the European Council on 14 December 2011. The first round of preparatory meetings with Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan took place in March 2012. The scoping phase with Morocco is completed and is under way with Tunisia. This process has yet to commence with Jordan and Egypt.
	DCFTA negotiations will be launched once the European Commission and member states are satisfied partner countries are ready to undertake the necessary reforms, and have the capacity to negotiate.

Trade Promotion

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment is taking to gain greater advance intelligence on business opportunities and major projects in (a) Mauritania, (b) Morocco, (c) Algeria, (d) Tunisia, (e) Libya, (f) Egypt, (g) Israel, (h) Lebanon, (i) Jordan, (j) Iraq, (k) Saudi Arabia, (l) United Arab Emirates, (m) Bahrain, (n) Qatar and (o) Oman.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment, in conjunction with other British embassy colleagues, is constantly developing and using its extensive network of contacts in markets and of business stakeholders to gain intelligence on business opportunities and major projects.

Trade Promotion

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what budget was allocated to the UK Trade and Investment department responsible for assisting businesses to export and invest in the Middle East and North Africa in 2011-12.

Michael Fallon: UKTI deploys staff in 103 overseas markets but sets budgets at programme level: we therefore do not hold information at country or regional level. To provide it would require obtaining detailed information from each location and therefore can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	UKTI's annual budget figures for 2012-13 are set out in its annual report and accounts for 2011-12, which is available in the House of Commons Library (reference: HC47).

Trade Promotion

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which countries in the Middle East and North Africa UK Trade and Investment has trade delegations or missions planned in the next 12 months.

Michael Fallon: Trade delegations and missions are planned to all UK Trade and Investment covered markets of the Middle East and North African region in the next 12 months. Some of these will be organised directly by UK Trade and Investment and most will take place in conjunction with business stakeholder organisations.

UK Trade and Investment

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which budgets UK Trade and Investment has allocated the £10 million in extra funds it received in the 2011 autumn statement.

Michael Fallon: The 2011 autumn statement announced £45 million over four years for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to help get more UK firms exporting. £10 million has been allocated against a new mid-sized business programme, which will be delivered through regional trade team budgets. The remaining £35 million is being used to double the number of companies that UKTI helps towards export to 50,000 a year by 2014-15. This will be achieved through a number of budget lines including regional trade support, the Tradeshow Access Programme, national trade missions and events and support for companies targeting the highest value trade opportunities.

UK Trade and Investment

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in which markets his Department plans to allocate the £8 million pilot funds to increase the level of service UK Trade and Investment has to offer; and to which service budgets his Department plans to allocate such funds.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment will allocate this pilot funding among the following 20 markets: Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. China will also be associated with this initiative, but is in a special category by virtue of the business-to-business services already provided by the China-Britain Business Council.

Visits Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what overseas visits he plans to make in the next 12 months.

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), undertakes a number of overseas trips every year, typically concentrating on major and emerging economies. Outside of Europe he has visited India, South Africa and Nigeria in the last year for example. For security reasons we do not publish the date and location of the Secretary of State's future travel plans.

Temporary Employment

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that temporary and agency workers are not exploited by labour providers who operate false travel and subsistence schemes under which such allowances are not paid to such workers.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the House on 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 273W.

HEALTH

Abortion: Counselling

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS reference cost for the termination of pregnancy is allocated for the provision of counselling; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not available because the cost of counselling is not separately identified within reference costs.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual cost is of providing accident and emergency services at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (a) between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am and (b) at weekends.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not available as costs collected from national health service trusts and NHS foundation trusts do not allow us to identify the costs of service provision at certain times or on certain days.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated at the accident and emergency department at Poole General Hospital in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such patients attended (a) between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am and (b) at weekends.

Anna Soubry: The table shows the Count of (i) attendances(1) to accident and emergency (A&E) for Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust(2), (ii) attendances between 10 pm and 8 am, and (iii) attendances at weekends for the period February to July 2012. It should be noted that these data are provisional(3).
	(1)A&E Attendances
	Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. It should be noted that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. The data presented includes planned follow-up attendances
	(2)A&E service providers
	A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health-care provider (e.g. NHS trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures.
	(3)Provisional data
	The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Total attendances Attendances between 10 pm and 8 am All weekend attendances 
			 February 4,229 894 1,114 
			 March 5,011 951 1,450 
			 April 4,788 997 1,471 
			 May 5,158 1,110 1,432 
			 June 5,118 1,089 1,599 
			 July 5,354 1,127 1,621 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated at the accident and emergency department at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such patients attended (a) between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am and (b) at weekends.

Anna Soubry: The following table shows the count of (i) attendances(1) to accident and emergency (A&E) for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(2), (ii) attendances between 10pm and 8am, and (iii) attendances at weekends for the period February to July 2012. It should be noted that these data are provisional(3).
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Total attendances Attendances between 10pm and 8am All weekend attendances 
			 February 5,080 701 1,338 
			 March 5,840 802 1,576 
			 April 5,288 711 1,498 
			 May 5,934 804 1,488 
			 June 5,911 809 1,742 
			 July 6,136 834 1,709 
			 (1)()A&E attendances Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. It should be noted that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. The data presented include planned follow-up attendances. (2 )A&E service providers A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. NHS trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. (3 )Provisional data The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were brought to the accident and emergency department at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital by the emergency services in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such patients were admitted (a) between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am and (b) at weekends.

Anna Soubry: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The following table shows the count of (i) attendances(1) to accident and emergency (A&E) for The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(2), (ii) attendances between 10pm and 8am, and (iii) attendances at weekends, that arrived by ambulance (including helicopter/air ambulance) for the period February to July 2012, it should be noted that these data are provisional(3).
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Total attendances Attendances between 10pm and 8am Weekend attendances 
			 February 572 202 180 
			 March 596 184 209 
			 April 525 174 176 
			 May 515 174 154 
			 June 474 159 177 
			 July 501 169 165 
			 (1 )A&E attendances Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. It should be noted that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. The data presented include planned follow-up attendances. (2 )A&E service providersA provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. NHS trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. (3 )Provisional data The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were brought to the accident and emergency department at Poole General Hospital by the emergency services in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such patients were admitted (a) between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am and (b) at weekends.

Anna Soubry: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the count of (i) attendances(1) to accident and emergency (A&E) for Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust(2), (ii) attendances between 10 pm and 8 am, and (iii) attendances at weekends, that arrived by ambulance (including helicopter/air ambulance) for the period February to July 2012. It should be noted that these data are provisional(3).
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Total attendances Attendances between 10 pm and 8 am All weekend attendances 
			 February 1,580 476 469 
			 March 1,716 487 542 
			 April 1,594 477 519 
		
	
	
		
			 May 1,703 515 511 
			 June 1,611 512 543 
			 July 1,688 522 549 
			 (1) A&E attendances Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. It should be noted that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. The data presented include planned follow-up attendances. (2) A&E service providers A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. NHS Trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of data flows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. (3) Provisional data The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Ambulance Services: Hoaxes and False Alarms

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many malicious emergency calls were received by the ambulance service in (a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) England in each of the last three years; and what recent estimate he has made of the financial costs associated with responding to malicious emergency calls in each such year.

Anna Soubry: Data on malicious calls are not centrally collected by the Department. The categorisation and management of malicious calls is a matter for individual ambulance trusts.

Cancer

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2010, Official Report, column 698W, on cancer, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the loss of expertise in cancer networks after they become strategic clinical networks.

Anna Soubry: Clinical networks are a national health service success story. The NHS Commissioning Board intends to build on that success, so that the board itself and clinical commissioning groups have access to a broad range of expert clinical advice, across a wider range of conditions and patient groups, to inform decisions about the way care for local populations is planned and delivered.
	The NHS Commissioning Board published its Single Operating Framework for strategic clinical networks on 12 November. This sets out the high-level framework within which clinicians can come together and develop arrangements that meet local circumstances and need. The board intends to complete recruitment of staff to the new network support teams by the end of December, and it is likely that many of the successful applicants will have existing network roles, including with cancer networks.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidelines developed to ensure that the commissioning awards made by clinical commissioning groups are adequately scrutinised by (a) local authorities and (b) his Department.

Anna Soubry: The Department has recently consulted on draft proposals regarding the procurement rules that clinical commissioning groups would be subject to from April 2013. These included that commissioners must act transparently and without discrimination. These requirements would be enforced by the sector regulator, Monitor.
	Local authorities also have the power to review any matter relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in their area and, from April 2013, this will include the power to scrutinise the work of clinical commissioning groups.

Dementia

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 38W, on dementia, if he will commission the Health and Social Care Information Centre to produce an estimate of the number of lives saved.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not intend to commission the Health and Social Care Information Centre to produce this information. It is not currently possible to obtain information about severity of dementia at point of prescription from general practitioner records or, therefore, to fairly compare survival in patients who had a prescription of antipsychotic drugs with those who did not. The Health and Social Care Information Centre is therefore currently unable to calculate an estimate of the number of lives saved.

Dermatology

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of dermatology training for GPs in relation to the level of patient demand.

Daniel Poulter: The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC) which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the United Kingdom.
	The GMC is committed to ensuring high-quality patient care delivered by high-quality health professionals and that health-care professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deal with the problems and conditions they will encounter in practice.
	The content of the general practitioner (GP) training curriculum is developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners for approval by the GMC. The GP curriculum includes a section on skin problems. Doctors completing GP training are assessed against all elements in the GP curriculum and should be competent to deliver care against all the competencies described.
	Although it is not practicable or desirable for the Government to prescribe the exact training that any individual doctor will receive, we are, of course, aware of the need to ensure that perceived areas of weakness in training curricula are addressed. For that reason, we are liaising with the GMC and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges about how best to ensure curricula do meet requirements and patient demand. The Department has also provided a supporting role in the development of the standards contained in “Quality Standards for Dermatology—Providing the right care for people with skin conditions”, recently initiated by the British Association of Dermatologists.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to prevent diabetes through the new NHS Commissioning Board mandate.

Anna Soubry: The mandate focuses on the overall outcomes—helping people live healthier, for longer, with a better quality of life. The NHS Outcomes Framework will be the main way of measuring progress against objectives set out in the mandate; diabetes is covered by domain 2 (“Enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions”) of the Outcomes Framework. This domain takes a generic rather than condition- specific approach to improving outcomes for people with long-term conditions.

Diseases

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will meet a small group of people diagnosed with Type 1 Gaucher disease to discuss funding for treatment of extremely rare conditions;
	(2)  whether treatment for Type 1 Gaucher disease will continue to be available on the NHS once the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services is abolished.

Anna Soubry: The National Specialised Commissioning Team hosted by London Strategic Health Authority is responsible for commissioning this highly specialised service for people with Type 1 Gaucher disease and it might, therefore, be more appropriate for its officials to meet this group.
	The Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) has no direct commissioning responsibility, but is an independent stakeholder advisory group. The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for commissioning highly specialised services from 1 April 2013.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure that individuals with intractable drug dependence are not excluded from participation in the eight Payment by Results for Recovery pilot programmes.

Anna Soubry: As set out in the NHS Constitution, access to services continues to be based on clinical need. The formula used by the Department for allocating funding for drug treatment pays more to those local areas which have greater success in attracting people into effective drug treatment and supporting their recovery. In addition, in the eight areas piloting Payment by Results for Drug and Alcohol Recovery, local commissioners pay more for the most difficult cases.

Food: Hygiene

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken as part of its risk assessment regime to ensure that breaches of food standards are reported to the Care Quality Commission by environmental health officers.

Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that local authority environmental health officers (EHOs) will actively collaborate with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) where necessary to ensure good practice. If there are severe or persistence cases of non- compliance relating to care services, local authorities should bring this to the attention of the CQC.
	We have also been advised by FSA that it will shortly be issuing guidance for local authority EHOs, clarifying official roles and responsibilities in the area of food provision in care services and the importance of effective communication in relation to cases where non-compliance is identified. The guidance will include input from the CQC.
	In addition the CQC's own requirements include a requirement, where food and hydration are provided as part of the activity, to ensure that service users are protected from the risk of inadequate nutrition and hydration. The CQC can take enforcement action where the requirement is not met.

Hospital Beds

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS hospital beds there are in England; and how many of those beds are in single rooms;
	(2)  how many hospital beds the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has; and how many such beds are in single rooms.

Daniel Poulter: The national health service provides data to the Department annually relating to:
	the annual average daily number of patient beds available; and
	the number of those beds that are single bedrooms for patients.
	These data are collected through the Estates Returns Information Collection, and the relevant data for the latest available period, 2011-12, are provided in the table.
	
		
			  England Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Number of available beds 148,798 735 
			 Number of available beds that are single bedrooms 55,863 287 
		
	
	The data provided have been supplied by the NHS and have not been amended centrally.
	The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

Hospitals

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the recommendations of the Royal College of Surgeons that general hospitals should serve a population of at least 500,000 to maximise patient safety.

Daniel Poulter: The configuration of front-line health services is a matter for the local national health service. Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population.

Hospitals: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will recommend to the Office of Fair Trading that the proposed merger between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Poole General Hospital Foundation Trust be referred to the Competition Commission.

Anna Soubry: This is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in this independent review.

Incontinence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the contracts awarded to Any Qualified Provider for continence care stipulate that the service provider should ensure the same or higher standards of care as that previously provided;
	(2)  what mechanism exists to monitor and audit the continence services provided under Any Qualified Provider rules;
	(3)  when the National Audit for Continence Care will be published;
	(4)  which stakeholders will be involved in the National Audit for Continence Care;
	(5)  whether the NHS Commissioning Board will be involved in the preparation of the National Audit for Continence Care.

Anna Soubry: All providers qualifying to provide continence services under Any Qualified Provider will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of the NHS Standard Contract. To qualify, providers will need to demonstrate that they meet robust criteria assessing quality as determined by commissioners.
	All providers awarded contracts under Any Qualified Provider will have their continence services monitored through normal contract-management arrangements. Providers qualified to provide continence services under Any Qualified Provider will be reviewed annually.
	The last national report of the “National Audit of Continence Care: Combined Organisational and Clinical Report” was published in September 2010 and is available at:
	www.hqip.org.uk/assets/Guidance/FULL-COMBINED-organisational-and-clinical-report-2-09-10.pdf
	Further work has since been carried out to evaluate the 2010 audit, through seeking feedback from audit participants and the completion of a pilot audit to incorporate suggested changes. The report “Capturing patients' experience of NHS continence services: pilot phase evaluation report” is available at:
	www.hqip.org.uk/assets/NCAPOP-Library/NCAPOP-2012-13/Continence-pilot-audit-on-patients-experience-published-Aug-2012.pdf
	A second pilot audit was also conducted on the feasibility of capturing information directly from patients on their experience of the continence care they received. Reports from both of the pilot audits were published in August this year. This report, “National audit of continence care: Pilot audit evaluation report”, is available at:
	www.hqip.org.uk/assets/NCAPOP-Library/NCAPOP-2012-13/Continence-pilot-audit-evaluation-report-published-Aug-2012.pdf
	The results from the pilot audits will help to inform the commissioning of any further national audit required for continence care. A range of stakeholders will be consulted prior to commissioning a further national audit including patient representatives, clinical experts and experts in quality improvement methodology.
	From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will fund the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme and will be responsible for setting its strategic direction.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Quality Standard for Crohn's disease will be published.

Norman Lamb: We have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop a Quality Standard on Crohn's disease as part of a library of approximately 180 NHS Quality Standards. NICE has not yet published a time scale for the development of this Quality Standard. The NHS Commissioning Board, which will be responsible for the strategic direction of NHS Quality Standards from April 2013, has begun discussions with NICE to determine the most appropriate sequencing for NHS Quality Standards to assist the Board in improving outcomes across the five domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Commissioning Outcomes Framework will help support people with inflammatory bowel disease to (a) remain in or (b) return to work; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The NHS Outcomes Framework includes measures to enhance the quality of life for people with long-term conditions, specifically indicators to measure the proportion of people feeling supported to manage their condition, and the employment of people with long-term conditions. Clinical Commissioning Groups will be accountable for commissioning appropriate services, including those for people with inflammatory bowel disease, which help to secure improvements in these indicators.
	It is for the NHS Commissioning Board to make decisions on how it will hold Clinical Commissioning Groups to account for their performance and they will be publishing details in due course.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of sick leave and work-related disability for people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Norman Lamb: The Department is not aware of any information which could be used to estimate the costs to the economy due specifically to inflammatory bowel disease. According to information from the Labour Force Survey, gastrointestinal diseases (including inflammatory bowel disease) were responsible in 2011 for about 10.3 million days of sickness absence out of a total of 131 million days from all conditions. The independent review of sickness absence, “Health at work”, published in November 2011, estimated that the cost to the United Kingdom economy of sickness absence from all conditions was around £15 billion.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with (a) Crohn's disease or (b) ulcerative colitis in Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available in the exact form requested. Information on completed spells of hospital inpatient treatment for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, the successor body to Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust, is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)(1) with a named primary or secondary diagnosis of (a) Crohn's disease or (b) ulcerative colitis(2) in Worcestershire PCT of residence(3) for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12(4) 
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis 
			 2007-08 768 636 
			 2008-09 838 657 
			 2009-10 955 803 
			 2010-11 1,084 864 
			 2011-12 1,185 994 
			 (1 )Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health-care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. (2 )Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary diagnosis The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. ICD-10 Codes used: K50—Crohn's disease K5l—Ulcerative colitis (3 )PCT of residence The primary care trust (PCT) containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another PCT for treatment. A change in methodology in 2011-12 resulted in an increase in the number of records where the PCT or strategic health authority (SHA) of residence was unknown. From 2006-07 to 2010-11 the current PCT and SHA of residence fields were populated from the recorded patient postcode. In order to improve data completeness, if the postcode was unknown the PCT, SHA and country of residence were populated from the PCT/SHA value supplied by the provider. From April 2011-12 onwards if the patient postcode is unknown the PCT, SHA and country of residence are listed as unknown. (4 )Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Maternity Services: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of the maternity unit at (a) the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and (b) Poole General Hospital in each of the last three years.

Daniel Poulter: The cost to national health service commissioners of specific maternity units is not reported separately to the Department.
	However, using data returned as part of the national annual reference cost collection it is possible to estimate the cost to the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust of providing maternity services. These costs may overestimate the cost of the maternity unit as some of the reported costs may relate to community-based activity rather than activity undertaken in the maternity units.
	The following table shows reference costs reported by the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for the last three years for all activity reported against obstetrics health-care resource groups and maternity-related out-patient attendances:
	
		
			 Total cost (£000) 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2,409 2,195 3,292 
			 Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 11,778 14,470 14,206 
			 Notes: 1. Costs include all health-care resource groups in Chapter N—Obstetrics—regardless of setting. 2. Costs include Obstetrics, Midwife Episodes and Ante-Natal Ultrasound out-patient attendances. Source: Published Reference Costs, 2009-10 to 2011-12.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department provided for NHS mental health services in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not allocate funding for specific services. This is a decision for local national health service organisations. However, the following table shows expenditure on mental health as a proportion of overall health service expenditure from 2006-07 to 2010-11, the latest data available. These data include estimates of expenditure by the Department and NHS (including primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and special health authorities).
	
		
			  Mental health expenditure (£ billion) Total expenditure (£ billion) Mental health expenditure as percentage of total expenditure 
			 2006-07 9.13 84.19 10.8 
			 2007-08 10.28 93.18 11.0 
			 2008-09 10.48 96.81 10.8 
			 2009-10 11.26 103.97 10.8 
			 2010-11 11.91 107.00 11.1

National Expert Panel On New and Emerging Infections

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections no longer publishes minutes and summaries of its meetings on its website.

Anna Soubry: National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections minutes and summaries continue to be published.
	Those from the 12th (held on 22 January 2010) and earlier meetings are at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/ab/NEPNEI/DH_096167
	Those from subsequent meetings are at:
	http://transparency.dh.gov.uk/category/minutes-2/advisory-bodies/nepnei/
	There is a link to the Archive on the Transparency page, but there is no link in the Archive page which will take the reader to the Transparency page.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Pay

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department issues guidance to NHS foundation trusts on setting the level of remuneration of chief executives, directors and non-executive directors of such trusts relative to their annual turnover.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not issue such guidance. National health service foundation trusts have freedom to make their own decisions about matters such as appointments and remuneration. Under schedule 7 to the National Health Service Act 2006, it is for foundation trusts to determine the remuneration for each of the members of their board of directors, both executive and non-executive. Monitor has issued a code of governance to foundation trusts which advises that levels of remuneration should be sufficient to attract, retain and motivate directors of the quality required to run the organisation successfully, but that a foundation trust should avoid paying more than is necessary for this purpose.

NHS: Negligence

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many compensation claims were made against (a) the East of England Strategic Health Authority and (b) Suffolk Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years; and how much was paid out to compensation claimants by that (i) authority and (ii) trust in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: The following tables show how many compensation claims were made against the East of England Strategic Health Authority in each of the last five years; and how much was paid out to compensation claimants by that authority and trust in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Number of claims made against East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			 National health service litigation authority notification year Existing liabilities scheme number of claims 
			 2007-08 2 
			 2008-09 7 
			 2009-10 7 
			 2010-11 7 
			 2011-12 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Compensation payments made in year with respect to claims against East of England SHA 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			 Payment year Existing liabilities scheme damages (£) 
			 2007-08 6,203,743 
			 2008-09 5,041,232 
			 2009-10 9,915,748 
			 2010-11 7,820,754 
			 2011-12 8,624,358 
			 Source: NHS Litigation Authority Fact Sheet 5, November 2012 
		
	
	The following tables show how many compensation claims were made against Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) in each of the last five years; and how much was paid out to compensation claimants by that (i) authority and (ii) trust in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Number of claims made against Suffolk PCT 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			 NHSLA notification year Clinical negligence scheme trusts number of claims 
			 2007-08 3 
			 2008-09 0 
			 2009-10 2 
			 2010-11 5 
			 2011-12 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Payments made in year with respect to claims against Suffolk PCT 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			 Payment year Clinical negligence scheme trusts damages (£) 
			 2007-08 25,000 
			 2008-09 160,000 
			 2009-10 0 
			 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 229,000 
			 Source: NHS Litigation Authority Website, Fact sheet 5, November 2012

Pregnancy: Drugs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what drugs are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for pregnant women susceptible to convulsive fits; and what the cost per prescription is of such drugs.

Anna Soubry: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not recommended any drugs specifically for the treatment of pregnant women susceptible to convulsive fits.
	Epilepsy is one of the main causes of convulsive fits. An updated clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults (including pregnant women) and children in primary and secondary care which includes recommendations on the use of anti-epileptic drugs was published by NICE on 25 January 2012.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to meet its new chief executive and staff.

Daniel Poulter: We have not made plans to visit the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to meet the new chief executive and staff.

School Milk

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has claimed for the Nursery Milk Scheme from (a) the Rural Payments Agency and (b) the EU in each of the last 10 financial years.

Daniel Poulter: The Department could not claim EU milk subsidy for the Nursery Milk Scheme prior to 2008. However in 2008 when the new EU rules were extended to cover early years settings and secondary schools, the Department submitted claims for the EU milk subsidy on behalf of child-care providers claiming under the Nursery Milk Scheme. From October 2008 to April 2010, the Department claimed a total of £2,641,271.08 from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for nursery milk claims. No claims were made beyond this period and the Department was asked to return this amount to the RPA as a routine EU audit revealed that some child- care providers were not fully compliant with the EU regulations.
	Individual child-care settings can claim the EU subsidy for the milk they provide to the under-fives in their care. However, should they do so, then this amount must be deducted from any claim for reimbursement which they make to the Nursery Milk Scheme.

School Milk

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the increased cost of the Nursery Milk Scheme in the last five years is due to an increased number of children receiving milk.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of individual children who have received free nursery milk. The following table shows increased cost of the Nursery Milk Scheme based on the total number of pints reimbursed in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Volume of milk (pints) 68,702,222 73,311,952 72,570,382 87,324,376 90,589,766 
			 Total Nursery Milk Scheme cost (£) 27,141,395 31,197,449 40,296,869 52,775,582 58,560,633 
			 Average price claimed per pint (£) 0.40 0.43 0.56 0.60 0.65 
		
	
	If we assume the increases in milk supplied are because more children are taking part in the scheme, then this factor accounts for a 28% rise in the cost of the scheme. However if some of the rise in supply is due to the same children receiving more milk, because, for example, they attend child care for more days each week, then this percentage will be lower.

School Milk

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's assessment of the effect of the proposed changes to the Nursery Milk Scheme on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Daniel Poulter: The Government remain committed to the continuation of the Nursery Milk Scheme. However, as a part of the process of reviewing the operation of the scheme, the Department will be assessing the impact of the proposed changes on business, including small and medium-sized enterprises. The data gathered during the consultation process will inform this assessment, which will be included in the final impact assessment to be published in 2013.

Skin Cancer

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will audit adherence by GPs to (a) NICE guidance that states that all patients with suspicious lesions must be immediately referred to the local specialist multi-disciplinary team and (b) other NICE guidance for the management of melanoma in primary care as outlined in “Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours including Melanoma”.

Anna Soubry: Through the National Cancer Peer Review Programme, peer review measures for skin cancer, including melanoma, are supporting the national health service to evaluate skin cancer services and to drive improvement across the service.
	The measures against which skin cancer services are assessed reflect the best practice guidance set out in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines, such as “Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours including Melanoma”.
	The development of cancer peer-review measures is an ongoing process in order that they reflect new NICE Quality Standards and clinical guidelines and revisions to existing NICE guidance.

Soft Drinks: Taxation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the introduction of a tax on high-sugar drinks.

Anna Soubry: There have been no discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the introduction of a tax on high-sugar drinks.

Sports: Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy that sports therapists should be statutorily regulated;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Care Professional Council on the statutory regulation of sports therapists;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had with the Society of Sports Therapists on the regulation of sports therapists.

Daniel Poulter: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) has had no recent discussion with the Society of Sports Therapists or the Health and Care Professions Council relevant to the regulation of sports therapists.
	The Health and Social Care Act 2012 provides for the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, which is to be renamed the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA), to quality assure voluntary registers of unregulated health-care professionals and health-care workers in the United Kingdom, social care workers in England, and certain students.
	The Government's view is that for the overwhelming majority of occupational and professional groups, which are not currently subject to statutory regulation, such as sports therapists, that assured voluntary registration is the preferred option.
	A system of assured voluntary registration would allow employers and people who use services to assure themselves that individual practitioners meet high standards of training, conduct and competence, and at all times apply high ethical standards to their work, without placing an undue regulatory burden on practitioners or taxpayers.

Sports: Medicine

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that sports therapists have appropriate levels of training to deal safely with the public.

Daniel Poulter: For practitioner roles such as sports therapists, which are not regulated by a professional regulatory body, it is the responsibility of the health service provider to ensure their staff have the appropriate levels of training to safely deal with the challenges they encounter in practice.
	We believe that local health-care providers are best placed to determine the training needs for their sports therapist workforce. To ensure standards remain high, local managers work in conjunction with education providers and skills networks to guarantee their sports therapist training programmes meet local service need.

Urinary System: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of urinary tract infections occurring in NHS hospitals that are associated with urinary catheters.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has not conducted a recent estimate of the proportion of urinary tract infections occurring in national health service hospitals that are associated with urinary catheters. However, the Health Protection Agency's English National Point Prevalence Survey in 2011 on health-care associated infections and antimicrobial use suggests that 43% of those patients with a urinary tract infection had a urinary catheter in place in the previous seven days before the onset of the infection.

Urinary System: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of antibiotics prescribed to in-patients was associated with urinary tract infections in the latest period for which figures are available.

Daniel Poulter: Information on what proportion of antibiotics prescribed to in-patients was associated with urinary tract infection is not collected routinely. The Health Protection Agency's Point Prevalence Survey conducted in 2011 measured antibiotic usage nationally and provided a snapshot of the number of patients prescribed antibiotics, including those prescribed for urinary tract infections in acute trusts in England. In this survey, 13.7% of antibiotics were prescribed for urinary tract infections as indicated in the medical records.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 11 October 2011, Official Report, columns 344-5W, on Atos Healthcare: manpower, how many Stream 2 referrals of Atos-approved healthcare professionals have been made by the General Medical Council.

Mark Hoban: Atos Healthcare has received 26 Stream 2 referrals from the GMC during the past six months of 2012 in respect of the DWP contract. It should be noted that a Stream 2 referral relates to cases where the GMC would not consider that the allegations, even if proven, would require them to take formal action. They are referred to the doctor's employer or contracting body so that they can consider what action, if any, they should take.

Carer's Allowance

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the evidential basis is for the Government's conclusion that there will be no reduction in the number of claimants of carer’s allowance following the introduction of the personal independence payment.

Esther McVey: The available information on the impact of PIP on carer's allowance is published in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Impact Assessment (May 2012). The impact on carers is covered in paragraphs 23 to 26. This can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf
	The conclusion in paragraph 26 was based on modelling carried out by the Department's analysts. This was based on administrative data combined with outputs from a voluntary sample of existing DLA recipients upon whom the PIP assessment process was trialled. More information about the PIP assessment process trial can be found in chapter 4 of the “Personal Independence Payment: assessment thresholds and consultation.” This can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf

Children

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  in what proportion of families with dependent children there is a drug or alcohol dependent parent or guardian;
	(2)  in what proportion of households with dependent children with an income of less than 60 per cent of median incomes there is a drug or alcohol dependent parent or guardian;
	(3)  in what proportion of out-of-work households with dependent children there is a drug or alcohol dependent parent or guardian.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have this information in the form in which it has been requested. However, we are currently looking at opportunities to expand our knowledge of disadvantaged groups through sharing information and data with other Government Departments and agencies.
	We recognise that drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most damaging root causes of poverty. Helping people to tackle their dependency on drugs or alcohol so that they can recover and find employment is a top priority for the Government.

Child Maintenance

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of applications to the Child Support Agency were from parents with care on out-of-work means-tested benefits in the last quarter for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The following table shows the number, and proportion, of new applications made to the Child Support Agency, and of these, where the parent with care is in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
	
		
			  Applications 
			 Number of new applications made to the Child Support Agency 27,300 
			 Number of these applications where the parent with care is in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance 8,100 
			 Percentage of cases 30 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest whole percent. 2. Figures exclude cases administered off system. 3. Benefit figures are sourced from DWP administrative benefit systems. The latest available information is at February 2012. 4. In the above analysis, a parent with care is deemed to be in receipt of benefit if he/she or his/her partner are on income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based). However, cases on the old computer system cannot be matched against partner's benefit status. Therefore, these partners are excluded. 
		
	
	These figures do not include cases where the parent with care is in receipt of employment and support allowance. Including this would require significant analysis which would be at disproportionate cost.

Child Maintenance

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) current scheme and (b) old scheme cases within the Child Support Agency with a calculation/assessment and payment schedule concern parents with care who are in receipt of out-of-work means-tested benefits.

Steve Webb: The following table shows the number and proportion of Child Support Agency cases due to pay maintenance where the parent with care is in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
	
		
			  Old (1993) scheme Current (2003) scheme 
			 Number of cases due to pay maintenance 178,400 668,700 
			 Number of cases where the parent with care is in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance 23,700 158,400 
			 Percentage of cases 13 24 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest whole percent. 2. Figures exclude cases administered off system. 3. Figures exclude nil assessed cases. 4. Benefit figures are sourced from DWP administrative benefit systems. The latest available information is at February 2012. 5. In the above analysis, a parent with care is deemed to be in receipt of benefit if he/she or his/her partner are on income support or jobseeker’s allowance (income based). However, cases on the old computer system cannot be matched against partner's benefit status. Therefore, these partners are excluded. 
		
	
	These figures do not include cases where the parent with care is in receipt of employment and support allowance. Including this would require significant analysis which would be at disproportionate cost.

Child Maintenance

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of assessed cases within the Child Support Agency under the (a) current scheme and (b) old scheme concern parents with care in receipt of out-of-work means-tested benefits where the non-resident parent is also in receipt of out-of-work benefits.

Steve Webb: The following table shows the number and proportion of live and assessed Child Support Agency cases where the parent with care is in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance and the non-resident parent is in receipt of income support, jobseeker's allowance or incapacity benefit.
	
		
			  Old (1993) scheme Current (2003) scheme 
			 Number of live and assessed cases 326,800 782,100 
			 Number of cases where both the parent with care and non-resident parent are in receipt of means-tested benefit(1) 15,500 53,900 
			 Percentage of cases 5 7 
			 (1) Figures exclude cases where the parent with care or non-resident parent is in receipt of employment and support allowance. Including this would require significant analysis which would be at disproportionate cost. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest whole percent. 2. Figures exclude cases administered off system. 3. Figures include nil assessed cases. 4. Benefit figures are sourced from DWP administrative benefit systems. The latest available information is at February 2012. 5. In the above analysis, a parent with care is deemed to be in receipt of benefit if he/she or his/her partner are on income support or jobseeker's allowance (income based). Likewise, a non-resident parent is classified as on benefit if he/she or his/her partner is in receipt of income support, jobseeker's allowance or incapacity benefit. However, cases on the old computer system cannot be matched against partner's benefit status. Therefore, these partners are excluded.

Disability

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to improve the definition of the additional costs associated with disability.

Esther McVey: The Department has no plans to improve the definition of the additional costs associated with disability. There is no agreed definition of the extra costs arising from disability and such costs may be influenced by a range of factors including the severity and type of impairment, income, geographic location and prioritisation by the individual.

Employment and Support Allowance

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken was to process appeals against refusal of employment and support allowance in (a) Lanarkshire, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Tom Greatrex), on 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 54W.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants have been moved to the work related activity group for employment and support allowance without attending a work capability assessment in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants have been moved to the support group of employment and support allowance without attending a work capability assessment in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the code of practice for official statistics.
	Note that when someone claiming incapacity benefits is reassessed for ESA, they will only have to undergo a face-to-face work capability assessment (WCA) if there is insufficient evidence for a paper-based WCA to be carried out.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which geographic areas incapacity benefit claimants are being migrated to the work related activity group for employment and support allowance without undergoing a work capability assessment.

Mark Hoban: When someone claiming incapacity benefits is reassessed for ESA, they will only have to undergo a face-to-face work capability assessment (WCA) if there is insufficient evidence for a paper-based WCA to be carried out.
	Claimants in all geographic areas across the country may be migrated to employment and support allowance without undergoing a face-to-face assessment.

Employment and Support Allowance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters have been sent to incapacity benefit claimants asking them to complete an ESA50 in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: The number of letters sent to incapacity benefit claimants requesting completion of an ESA50 in each month in the period November 2011 to October 2012 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of letters sent 
			 2011  
			 November 49,300 
			 December 44,700 
			   
			 2012  
			 January 50,400 
			 February 45,800 
			 March 48,400 
			 April 49,700 
			 May 50,300 
			 June 43,500 
			 July 50,700 
			 August 46,600 
			 September 48,700 
			 October 53,700 
			 Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Youth Contract placements have been started in (a) the UK, (b) each local authority and (c) each ward in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such placements were with smaller employers.

Mark Hoban: The Youth Contract was launched in April 2012. Up to and including May 2012 there were 9,870 work experience and 2,550 sector-based work academy starts. We will be placing a copy of the number of starts per local authority area in the House of Commons Library. Starts are not available at ward level, and we do not keep data about employer destinations.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many wage subsidies have been transferred to businesses under the Youth Contract scheme since its launch;
	(2)  how much has been spent on Youth Contract wage subsidies since the launch of the scheme.

Mark Hoban: The Youth Contract, including wage incentives, went live in April 2012. From this point any young person attached to the Work programme could be placed into work with a wage incentive being offered to the employer.
	From late July 2012, in selected ‘youth unemployment hotspots’, wage incentives became available via Jobcentre Plus to employ eligible 18 to 24-year-olds.
	In most cases the wage incentives element of the Youth Contract are paid after a young person has been in work continuously for 26 weeks. Following the collection and quality assurance of these data, the first set of Official Statistics on the wage incentive should be available from early 2013.

Epilepsy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with epilepsy have received support from (a) access to work, (b) the Work programme and (c) work choice in (i) Vauxhall constituency and (ii) England and Wales since May 2010.

Esther McVey: The Department's most recent records show that between 1 May 2010 and 30 June 2012, no one with epilepsy as their reported primary medical condition was helped by Access to Work in the Vauxhall parliamentary constituency. In England and Wales combined 1,360 individuals with epilepsy received help.
	Figures are not available for Work Choice or the Work programme.
	Source
	Access to Work database. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to missing or erroneous postcodes, there are a small proportion of cases where we have been unable to generate a parliamentary constituency.

Housing Benefit

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in each parliamentary constituency; and what the cost to the public purse was of housing benefit payments in each parliamentary constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information requested on the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in each parliamentary constituency is available and has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the cost of housing benefit payments in each parliamentary constituency is not available. Expenditure by local authority is available up to 2011-12 and is published here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/h_tables_budget_2012_300812.xls

Housing Benefit

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals who were fleeing domestic violence and entered a refuge claimed housing benefit for both the refuge service and their former home in each of the last five years; what the (a) average and (b) highest payment made was for such dual housing costs; and what the (i) average and (ii) longest period was during which such payments were made.

Steve Webb: The information is not available.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals who were fleeing domestic violence and entered a refuge received housing benefit for their refuge rent in each of the last five years; what the average payment was in each period; and what the overall cost of the payment was in each period.

Steve Webb: The information is not available.

Housing Benefit: Brent

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of households in the London borough of Brent who will lose all apart from 50 pence of their current housing benefit award as a result of the household benefit cap; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Of the 2,500 households estimated to be affected by the benefit cap in Brent local authority around 100 will have their housing benefit reduced to 50p at the point of implementation of the cap.
	The figures presented above are consistent with the recent Impact Assessment published on 16 July 2012. In making these estimates we assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and that they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to move as many into work as possible. Therefore, these figures are subject to change prior to the policy being implemented in April 2013.

Incapacity Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of incapacity benefit have (a) been found fit for work in the current reassessment exercise and (b) been referred to the Work programme in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Information on incapacity benefit reassessment is already published and can be found in table 1 here:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_ibr/esa_ibr_nov12.xls
	Information on Work programme referrals up to the end of July 2012 is already published and can be found here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wp

Incapacity Benefit: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have been moved to the work-related activity group for employment and support allowance without having attended a work capability assessment in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have been moved to the support group of employment and support allowance without having attended a work capability assessment in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: This information is not available.
	When an incapacity benefit claimant is reassessed for employment and support allowance, they will only have to undergo a face-to-face work capability assessment (WCA) if there is insufficient evidence for a paper-based WCA to be carried out.

Incapacity Benefit: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters have been sent to incapacity benefit claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency asking them to complete an ESA50 questionnaire in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: With regard to the number of letters sent to incapacity benefit claimants, neither the Department for Work and Pensions or Atos Healthcare holds those data by constituency area.

Industrial Health and Safety

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unpaid court fines in cases brought by the Health and Safety Executive were recorded in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	HM Courts and Tribunals Service systems do not identify how many fines remain outstanding for cases brought by specific prosecutors and therefore this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of all fine accounts.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department uses to assess the effectiveness of each Jobcentre Plus office.

Mark Hoban: DWP monitors the effectiveness of Jobcentre Plus via a range of performance mechanisms, including performance against the Cabinet Office Structural Reform Plan and its own internal Performance Environment. The main measure of Jobcentre Plus performance is the rate at which people leave jobseeker's allowance, income support and employment and support allowance and move into employment. The measure supports the Department for Work and Pensions 2011-15 business plan and the coalition Government's structural reform priorities. The Department provides regular monthly progress and performance reports to the Department and Ministers, and makes performance data available to the public through the DWP website. The Department has also published research on the effectiveness of our offices, which also appears on the DWP website.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed in Jobcentre Plus offices.

Mark Hoban: Jobcentre Plus was re-structured and absorbed into a revised DWP Operations structure over a year ago and no longer exists as a separate organisation. Under the new DWP Operations structure, the areas that most closely align with Jobcentre Plus in its previous form are the national Jobcentre network delivering a range of face-to-face services, benefits processing offices, contact centres providing telephony services, and operational support offices.
	As at September 2012, the latest date for which published information is available, the number of people in post in the revised structure was 79,958.

Jobseeker's Allowance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants per job vacancy in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c)  Scotland and (d) the UK.

Mark Hoban: The Department is aware of the challenges facing jobseekers in the labour market and has put in place a substantial package of support to help them move into work.
	Jobcentre Plus offers claimants a comprehensive menu of support including help with job search and referral to local skills provision. This is bolstered by a number of Get Britain Working measures including work experience and pre-employment training, volunteering, Work Clubs and support for those looking to start their own businesses.
	The Work programme provides tailored help for those claimants furthest from the labour market. Claimants with more challenging barriers to work can be referred early. Providers are paid on the results they achieve, and are paid more for supporting the hardest to help into sustained work.
	The Youth Contract provides new opportunities for unemployed young people, including additional support from Jobcentre Plus; wage incentives for employers recruiting eligible young people; and extra work experience places.
	Additional funding has also being made available to support the most vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training, into learning, an apprenticeship or a job with training.

Jobseeker's Allowance

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy that people leaving disability benefits for jobseeker's allowance (JSA) who are long-term unemployed are offered similar facilities to get into work as those who have been on JSA for 26 weeks or more.

Mark Hoban: All claimants on jobseeker's allowance (JSA) have access to tailored employment support from day one of their claim. Through Jobcentre Plus advisers, claimants can access the menu of support including work experience, skills and job search support. Advisers have the flexibility to judge which interventions will help claimants move into employment, at the most appropriate point in a claim, tailoring this to individual need.
	In line with other JSA claimants, those individuals leaving disability benefits for JSA will access the Work programme at an appropriate time in their claim. The Work programme's “black box” approach gives providers greater freedom and flexibility to deliver personalized support to individuals.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide details of the pilot areas used to encourage jobseeker's allowance claimants to use online services since May 2012.

Mark Hoban: Earlier this year, trailblazer pilots 1, 2 and 3 were implemented to test different approaches to encourage claimants to use JSA Online (JSAOL), as detailed in the following table. These approaches have now been implemented nationally as of 31 October 2012.
	
		
			 Trailblazer Date started Approach tested Area 
			 Trailblazer 1 25 May 2012 Providing greater direction/encouragement to claimants to go online Durham and Teesside District supported by Middlesbrough Contact Centre 
			 Trailblazer 2 25 May 2012 Look at the effect that increased telephony wait times has on the claimants' take-up of the JSA online option Essex District supported by Lowestoft Contact Centre 
			 Trailblazer 3 25 May 2012 Advising JSA online claimants that they will get their benefit entitlement decisions more quickly than those who claim on the phone Thames Valley District supported by Canterbury and Cosham Benefit Centre and Lowestoft Contact Centre 
		
	
	To test additional business processes that direct claimants to DWP's online service, three further, interventions have been implemented in selected areas as detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 Trailblazer Date started Approach tested Area 
			 Trailblazer 4 24 August 2012 Target Rapid Reclaim claimants to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of making a claim via JSA online Gloucestershire and West of England District, supported by Torquay Contact Centre 
			 Trailblazer 5 12 October 2012 Target claimants who refuse to go online and insist on remaining in the telephony channel and the effect of being offered a call-back appointment rather than making a claim over the phone at first contact Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, supported by Bangor Contact Centre 
			 Trailblazer 6 31 August 2012 Direct all those claimants who can, and are eligible, to use JSA online. Where they do not have internet access, claimants will be given details of internet access sites East Wales District (Eastern Valleys) supported by Bangor Contact Centre 
			 Trailblazer 6 extensions(1) 9 November 2012 Direct all those claimants who can, and are eligible, to use JSA online. Where they do not have internet access, claimants will be given details of internet access sites Merseyside and Birmingham and Solihull Districts 
			 (1 )To include districts with a higher density population and different social challenges. 
		
	
	Trailblazer 6 will be extended further on 7 December 2012 to include all sites within the South East Wales District.
	In all cases, contact by phone remains available for the most vulnerable claimants or those with significant barriers.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered using post offices for those unable to access the internet at home to make jobseeker's allowance claims.

Mark Hoban: DWP already signposts claimants to a number of providers of internet access, such as local libraries, and welcomes the provision of public internet access by third parties including the Post Office. As we move to more services that are digital by default, we recognise that some of our customers will need assistance. We will ensure that we will give support to those customers either by telephone, online or, in some cases, through face-to-face contact.
	When customers tell us that they do not have access to the internet we inform them of local provision where they can access it for free or at low cost. This includes external partners such as UK Online, but will also cover local organisations such as libraries and community centres. Digital champions in jobcentres, contact centres and benefit centres keep staff informed of the latest provision so that any customer who contacts us can be signposted appropriately.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional resources he plans to make available to jobcentres to provide internet access for people who are unable to access the internet at home to access jobseeker's allowance claims.

Mark Hoban: By the end of December 2012, the Internet Access Devices Project will have installed 2,178 internet access devices into 705 jobcentres. There will also be the facility for further sites to apply for them to be installed and for existing sites to increase the number of devices they have.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants who found employment with the assistance of Jobcentre Plus resumed claiming jobseeker's allowance within three months of commencing employment in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) January to October 2012.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Metal Theft

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the potential safety risk due to theft of copper gas pipes fitted externally to residential properties.

Mark Hoban: The potential safety issue from theft of gas copper pipes has been brought to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) through a number of routes:
	(a) Through a small number of individual cases being reported to HSE.
	(b) Through discussions with the Energy Networks Association, as part of their campaign on the wider issue of metal theft.
	(c) Via standards committees, including the Meter Asset Managers Code of Practice and British Standards Committee 6891 (Installation of low pressure gas pipework).
	This issue is being addressed as part of a wider Government response on metal theft including from electricity substations and overhead lines. The Government are currently supporting a private Member’s Bill to introduce stronger powers for the licensing and inspection of scrap metal dealers. British Standard 6891 has also been updated to include guidance regarding this risk.

Motability

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people in the north-west of England likely to lose access to motability cars as a result of the replacement of disability living allowance by personal independence payments.

Esther McVey: Personal Independence Payment: Assessment Thresholds and Consultation was published in January 2012. It included early estimates on the likely PIP benefit caseload in 2015-16, compared with the likely working age DLA caseload if the new benefit is not introduced. These estimates, which were based on the second draft of the assessment criteria, have been broken down by each of the rate combinations in the benefits. The assessment criteria for PIP are still being finalised. A Government response to the consultation and a final draft of the criteria will be published later this year.
	We are continuing to work closely with Motability to understand what impact the personal independence payment might have on its customer numbers and to ensure it is well placed to manage the introduction of the new benefit.

Motability

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that people in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance and personal independence payments who have that entitlement removed do not have motability cars removed before any reconsideration of their case has taken place.

Esther McVey: Motability is an independent charity wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability Scheme. While the Department works closely with Motability and facilitates the transfer of benefit to the scheme it is not directly involved in establishing scheme policy or operational issues. This responsibility falls to the Governors and Director of Motability.
	Once payment of the mobility component has stopped, it is Motability's policy to discuss with the customer, on a case-by-case basis, when the vehicle is to be recovered.

Occupational Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what comparative assessment he has made of the likely effect of (a) transaction costs and (b) lost investment opportunity during periods of transfer under (i) pot follows member pension schemes and (ii) the aggregator model; and if he will estimate the likely financial effect of transaction costs and lost investment opportunity on an employee who changed employer 11 times under a pot follows member scheme.

Steve Webb: Under either a pot follows member system or aggregator scheme, there may be transaction costs and a small risk associated with lost investment opportunities from automatic transfers—though lost investment opportunities during the period of transfer could have either a positive or negative effect—depending on whether the relevant funds move up or down during the period in question.
	To the extent that a pot follows member system will transfer the same fund more than once, transaction costs expressed as a proportion of the fund could have a marginally greater effect, although in general we expect it to be small and it will depend on the particular process. The effect of these possible costs needs to be considered against the benefits to individuals from consolidation, including possible lower overall charges—as providers pass on the administrative savings that will be created in the longer term and with fewer people being subject to deferred member penalties.
	It is not possible to estimate what the effect will be on an employee who changes employer 11 times under a pot follows member system, as it will vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on a range of factors, including how many schemes they enrol into, whether these are eligible for automatic transfer, the value of their pots and the pot size limit, the particular schemes they are transferred between, as well as when and how pots are transferred.

Occupational Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the costs of investment in information technology required for pot follows member and an aggregator scheme.

Steve Webb: We are currently considering how the process for automatic transfers might work, both in terms of the mechanism for matching members to pots, and the end-to-end process, and are working with the pensions industry to understand the role and costs of IT in any solution.

Personal Independence Payment

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a sufferer of myopic retinal degeneration who is a recipient of disability living allowance at mid-rate care and lower rate mobility will continue to receive the same financial support under the personal independence payment scheme.

Esther McVey: It is not possible to generalise on whether or not an individual with a particular health condition or impairment will be entitled to personal independence payment, and at which rate, as entitlement is based on the impact of their health condition or impairment, not on what type it is.
	The personal independence payment assessment will look at disabled people as individuals, rather than labelling them by their health condition or impairment. The assessment is being designed to consider an individual's ability to carry out key everyday activities, and will take account of physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments.

Personal Independence Payment

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the final criteria for the personal independence payment assessments will be published.

Esther McVey: We intend to publish our response to the consultation on the PIP assessment criteria, with the final set of criteria before the end of this year.

Personal Independence Payment

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many healthcare professionals are expected to be recruited by (a) Atos and (b) Capita to carry out personal independence payment assessments.

Esther McVey: Based on the information DWP provided for the PIP competition, Atos expects to use 750 health professionals in Lot 1 and 650 in Lot 3. Capita expects to use 559 health professionals in Lot 2.
	The majority of the health professionals used by Atos will not be recruited directly but by Atos' sub-contract partners across the health sector.
	The DWP is now working very closely with each provider to agree final numbers. By the end of January 2013, Atos is required to provide confirmation that qualified health professionals are in place for Lot 1. By the end of March 2013, Atos and Capita are required to provide the same confirmation in respect of Lots 3 and 2.

Personal Independence Payment

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training will be undertaken by (a) Capita and (b) Atos of healthcare professionals recruited to carry out personal independence payment assessments.

Esther McVey: We have set clear requirements on the competencies that health professionals must demonstrate before they can carry out assessments for personal independence payment, and the areas that assessment providers must cover in their training. Any professional not meeting our requirements will not be given approval to carry out assessments.
	Providers are responsible for developing their own training products. We will work with them to support them and ensure that all elements of our training requirements are covered to the required quality, before signing off their training plans. This work is currently under way.

Remploy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help the Government have given to people formerly employed by Remploy to find alternative work; and how many people have already found alternative work.

Esther McVey: We have put in place a People Help and Support Package (PHSP) for delivering tailored support to those disabled people becoming redundant as a result of the announcements from the Remploy Board. The package offers support to help each affected disabled individual to adjust to life outside segregated employment and obtain alternative mainstream employment.
	The PHSP is delivered through key partners and stakeholders including Remploy and external providers such as Disabled People's User Led Organisations (DPULO's), employment programme providers, employers and training establishments.
	I can confirm that 1188 employees have now left Remploy and 1068 have agreed to participate in the PHSP package. The number of people engaging with PHSP support is increasing, leading to more positive outcomes as 63 people have already found alternative employment and I expect this figure to improve considerably over time.

Remploy

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on how many of the former workers of Remploy Abertillery made redundant in August 2012 have subsequently secured full-time employment.

Esther McVey: The Abertillery factory closed in mid August. I have checked the latest figures up to and including 26 October and can confirm that no one has yet found employment. To put this in context, there are 20 disabled individuals affected by the Abertillery factory closure. None has indicated they wish to retire and 14 have met with their personal case worker and therefore opted to take up the People Help and Support Package (PHSP).
	The PHSP offers support to help each affected disabled individual to obtain alternative mainstream employment and adjust to life outside Government-funded segregated sheltered employment. It is available to all 20 disabled individuals at the Abertillery site and is accessed through their personal case worker.

Remploy

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on which dates Remploy learnt of a product defect affecting its Panther chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection suit; and when it issued a product alert.

Esther McVey: Remploy received notification of a concern surrounding an alleged defect in its Panther CBRN suit on 22 January 2010. This prompted an investigation, the outcome of which was the suggestion in February 2010 that the suit be sent for testing before any alert regarding an alleged defect was issued. Various modifications were made to the suit (which became the Panther 10) and the suit was sent for re-testing. The test results were deemed satisfactory.
	Concerns were again raised on 3 November 2011 and following further internal discussion the company issued a precautionary product alert letter to relevant customers notifying them of the concerns raised. The product alert letters were issued at the end of December 2011. Remploy has to date received no claims or complaints from its customers surrounding the protection levels of the Panther suits.

Remploy: Scotland

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former Remploy employees in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency have found employment since being made redundant in summer 2012.

Esther McVey: The Motherwell factory closed in mid August. I have checked the latest figures up to and including 26 October and can confirm that no one has yet found employment. Twenty disabled individuals are affected by the Motherwell factory closure. Three have indicated that they wish to retire and all have met with their personal care worker and therefore have opted to take up the People Help and Support Package (PHSP).
	PHSP offers support to help each affected disabled individual to obtain alternative mainstream employment and adjust to life outside of Government-funded segregated sheltered employment. It is available to all 20 disabled individuals at the Motherwell site and is accessed through their personal case worker.

Remploy: Scotland

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received in respect of the re-opening of the Remploy factory in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency.

Esther McVey: I have been advised that Remploy has received two propositions for the Motherwell site from third parties who wish to acquire the site and assets, and both may involve potential for the generation of new jobs.
	The specific details of both bids are confidential.

Social Security Benefits

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment his Department has made of the number of households in (a) Scotland, (b) each parliamentary constituency and (c) each local authority in Scotland that will be affected by the benefit cap in April 2013.

Mark Hoban: It is estimated that around 2,500 households in Scotland will be affected by the cap in the first year of its implementation (financial year 2013-14).
	A table showing a breakdown by parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library and can be found at:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1587/LibraryDocument125527.pdf
	A table showing a breakdown of the number of households who will be affected, by local authority, was placed in the Library and can be found at:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1447/LocalAuthoritybreakdownaffectedbybenefitcap.doc
	Please note that in both of the tables household numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by “..”, as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the total number of households affected in the July 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.
	These estimates assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and that they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to move as many into work as possible. Therefore, please note that these figures are subject to change prior to the policy being implemented from April 2013.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many benefit fraud investigators were employed by (a) his Department and (b) local authorities in each year since 2005-06;
	(2)  how much was spent on employing benefit fraud investigators by (a) his Department and (b) local authorities in each year since 2005-06.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the total number of staff and the total cost of staff carrying out fraud- type activities in DWP since 2006-07. This is the earliest time data are available from.
	
		
			 Fraud type activities totals 
			  Costs (£) FTE 
			 2006-07 121,847,995 4,173 
			 2007-08 117,597,358 3,890 
			 2008-09 110,601,616 3,673 
			 2009-10 111,348,187 3,621 
			 2010-11 111,182,553 3,659 
			 2011-12 120,719,864 3,845 
			 Note: We do not collect data for local authorities. Source: The data are extracted from: The JCP ABM Models 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11 and the DWP ABM Operations Model 11/12.

Social Security Benefits: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many people in Liverpool, Walton constituency will be affected by the Government's proposed reforms to (a) disability living allowance, (b) social sector under-occupancy, (c) council tax benefit and (d) social fund, and by the proposed budget cap.

Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
	(a) The available information is published in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Impact Assessment (May 2012). This can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf
	Information on current disability living allowance caseloads at a parliamentary constituency level can also be found on the Department's website at:
	http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html
	(b) No estimates are available for the social sector under-occupancy measure at parliamentary constituency level. Regional estimates of impacts are provided in the impact assessment at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf
	(c) Estimates of how many people will be affected by the change from council tax benefit to localised support are not available at parliamentary constituency level. The number of people affected will depend on decisions by local authorities about the design of their schemes.
	(d) We do not have any estimates on how many people will be affected by the social fund reforms that are due to take effect from April 2013 at parliamentary constituency level. As part of the reforms some social fund discretionary payments will be abolished. Funding is being provided for new and better targeted local provision through local authorities in England, and through arrangements made by the Scottish and Welsh Governments. The local provision will be tailored to local circumstance and integrated with other local support services. Local authorities in England are currently finalising the design of their own local schemes, including eligibility criteria. This means we are unable to provide any estimates on how many people will be eligible under each local authority scheme.
	In addition universal credit will provide a better service of payments on account, supporting many people in need of short and longer term credit facilities. These necessary reforms simplify the current complex, poorly targeted and remote system, and ensure that support is focused on those who really need it.
	The benefit cap: a table showing a breakdown by parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library and can be found at:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1587/LibraryDocument125527.pdf
	The figures presented above are consistent with the recent Impact Assessment published on 16 July 2012. In making these estimates we assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and that they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to move as many into work as possible. Therefore, please note that these figures are subject to change prior to the policy being implemented in April 2013.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department plans to respond to the recommendation in the National Audit Office report on contract management of medical services (HC 627) that his Department should tighten performance requirements for medical contractors linked to the quality of medical assessments.

Mark Hoban: The Department welcomes the NAO review and intends to implement the recommendations that will support the continuous improvement of the contract and performance. The NAO recognised that quality targets have, with only minor exceptions, been consistently achieved, and in many cases out performed targets. The Department welcomes this view but will nevertheless review targets with our contractor to ensure they too reflect our appetite for continuous improvement.

State Retirement Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are entitled to a state pension in excess of £140 per week; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Based on the Department's forecasting models:
	Around 11.5 million individuals were projected to be receiving a state pension in Great Britain in September 2012. Around 5.2 million (around 45%) of these individuals were projected to have a gross state pension amount in excess of £140 a week (in 2012-13 earnings terms).
	The estimates above are for gross state pension amounts which include additional pension rights accrued in private pension schemes during periods of contracting out. They do not include income from means-tested benefits.
	Sources:
	The Department's PENSIM2 simulation model November 2012 and DWP Forecasting Division: Budget 2012 medium term caseload forecast. Figures relate to Great Britain only.

Telephone Services

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 350-5W, on telephone services, 
	(1)  if he will set out for each of the telephone numbers listed (a) the amount and (b) the proportion of the termination rate (service charge or wholesale charge) that has (i) been retained by the Department's telephone provider for that line and (ii) been received by the Department;
	(2)  for each of the telephone numbers listed, what the termination rate (wholesale charge or service charge) element is of each call, expressed in pence per minute.

Mark Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions does not receive any revenue from calls to its 0800 and 0845 services. The associated termination rates are set by telecommunications providers and are not a matter for DWP.

Telephone Services

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 350-5W, on telephone services, for each telephone number provided, who the telephone service provider is.

Mark Hoban: All of the telephone numbers listed in the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, columns 350-5W, are provided by British Telecom.

Universal Credit

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the qualifying conditions for each passported benefit for which he is responsible will change under universal credit.

Mark Hoban: Three elements of the regulated social fund are currently passported via means-tested benefits and tax credits, each with their own additional eligibility rules relating to household or family circumstances. These elements are:
	Cold Weather Payments,
	Funeral Payments, and
	Sure Start Maternity Grants.
	The administration of passported benefits is the responsibility of a number of Government Departments and the devolved Administrations. We are currently working across Government to ensure that we introduce universal credit in a way that works smoothly with all passported benefits while ensuring that these benefits continue to be available to the families that need them most.
	We will announce our eligibility criteria in due course.

Universal Credit

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in receipt of universal credit will have at least one individual whose main employment is self-employment in (a) the UK and (b) Wales.

Mark Hoban: It is estimated that there will be approximately (a) 700,000 households in Great Britain with at least one individual whose main employment is self-employment entitled to universal credit once it is fully implemented.
	The information requested in (b) is not available at this level of detail.

Universal Credit

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of levels of broadband access in rural areas on his Department's plans to (a) introduce universal credit and develop online services to jobseekers.

Mark Hoban: The Department has undertaken some general insight to ascertain the levels of internet access and capability among claimants. We are also undertaking some pilots, including some in rural areas, using the current jobseeker's allowance online claim facility. These will provide further information on claimants' needs in terms of both access and skills. The trials involve working closely with third-party providers of internet access and signposting the internet provision available within jobcentres. The findings of these trials will help shape the provision of online services for both universal credit and job search activities.
	The Department remains committed to providing an excellent customer service to all and will support those with difficulties of access and/or skills and will continue to provide alternative channels where appropriate.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who the Senior Responsible Officer is for the universal credit project.

Mark Hoban: I refer the right hon. Member to the replies I gave to his recent question 125963 on 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 312W, and PQ126554 on 5 November 2012, Official Report, column 503W.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid to each firm awarded an information technology contract as part of the universal credit programme since the start of the programme.

Mark Hoban: The overall spend with our suppliers for design and development of IT since the start of the universal credit programme is £225 million.

Universal Credit: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudon constituency who will be in receipt of universal credit on 1 January (i) 2013, (ii) 2014 and (iii) 2015.

Mark Hoban: There will be no people in receipt of universal credit on 1 January 2013. In subsequent years the number of people in receipt of universal credit will depend on the detailed rules for managing the build-up of the caseload. These rules are currently under development.

Welfare State: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he next expects to meet (a) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (b) Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss (i) welfare reform and (ii) the introduction of universal credit.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Department's Ministers meet regularly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss a range of topics.

Winter Fuel Payments: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received the winter fuel allowance in (a) Sunderland, (b) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (c) the north-east in the last five years.

Steve Webb: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Winter fuel payment recipients 
			  Houghton and Sunderland South parliamentary constituency Sunderland local authority North-east region 
			 2011-12 19,940 57,840 554,160 
			 2010-11 20,030 58,340 559,430 
			 2009-10 n/a 57,950 555,830 
			 2008-09 n/a 56,830 545,600 
			 2007-08 n/a 55,770 534,460 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. “n/a” means figures are not available due to boundary changes. These figures recognise the May 2010 structural changes to the parliamentary constituencies of England and Wales and the April 2009 structural changes to the local authorities of England. 3. These figures are for the total number of payments made and will therefore include some claimants who are not yet pension age. 4. The reduction in the latest year’s figures is due to the rise in female state pension age. The general increase in the pensioner population has been offset (for a time) by the gradual increase of the female state pension age and therefore the age of entitlement for WFP. 5. The latest figures for winter fuel payments are published at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp

Work Capability Assessment

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments have been carried out in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The latest publication on the number of work capability assessments for new employment and support allowance claims was released in October 2012 and is available on the Departmental website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
	Tables 2a and 2b in the spreadsheet at the link above provide the outcomes of all initial and repeat WCAs completed on new ESA claims between October 2008 and May 2012.
	The latest publication on the number of work capability assessments for incapacity benefits claimants reassessed for employment and support allowance was released in November 2012 and is available on the Departmental website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
	Table 1 in the spreadsheet at the link above provide the outcomes of all incapacity benefits reassessment cases.

Work Capability Assessment

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments carried out by Atos were awarded (a) 0, (b) 1 to 14 and (c) 15 points or above in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the number of claimants awarded (a) 0, (b) 1 to 14 and (c) 15 points or more following the initial work capability assessment between October 2008 and February 2012.
	It should be noted that a claimant may be awarded the benefit while recording less than 15 points (or no points data at all) if exceptional circumstances apply (e.g. life threatening diseases or some specific disease of bodily or mental disablement that would be a serious risk to any person's mental or physical health if they were found not to have a limited capability for work).
	
		
			 Points awarded at initial work capability assessment 
			  0 points 1 to 14 points 15 or more points 
			 Total (October 2008 to May 2012) 654,700 192,300 253,600 
			 Notes: 1. Table 1 only includes outcomes of initial assessment for new ESA claims. It does not include outcomes of repeat assessments or incapacity benefit reassessment. 2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.

Work Capability Assessment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of implications for his Department's policies of the report entitled “The People's Review of the Work Capability Assessment” published on 12 November 2012 by the We are Spartacus network.

Mark Hoban: DWP is currently looking at the report and considering if there will be any implications for departmental policy.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against his Department's decisions on eligibility for employment and support allowance have been upheld where the work capability assessment awarded the claimant zero points in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date.

Mark Hoban: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of work capability assessments were audited by (a) Atos and (b) his Department in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012 to date.

Mark Hoban: The model used to determine the number of national audits was developed by DWP analysts and produces a statistically valid sample size. The model uses a number of criteria to determine the sample size, and although volumes are taken into account the number of audits is not necessarily directly proportional to the overall number of cases.
	
		
			 (a) Number and percentage of WCA face to face assessments audited by Atos 
			  Number of WCA audits Number of WCAs Audits as a percentage of WCAs 
			 2010 3,657 470,893 0.78 
			 2011 3,675 579,997 0.63 
			 2012 (to date) 3,293 812,300 0.41 
		
	
	The number of WCA audits refers to the number of national random audits conducted.
	
		
			 (b) Number and percentage of WCA face to face assessments jointly audited by Atos and DWP 
			  Number of WCA audits Number of WCAs Audits as a percentage of WCAs 
			 2010 184 470,893 0.04 
			 2011 220 579,997 0.04 
			 2012 (to date) 229 812,300 0.03 
		
	
	The number of joint audits refers to the number of assessments jointly audited as part of the routine joint audit programme.
	All figures quoted in this response have been derived from Atos internal data.